If you need grounding this AM - here’s Ancestor Toni Morrison’s lecture from Portland State, Black Studies Center, May 1975
It’s a classic I revisit often.
Incidentally, her voice is one of the calming voice I’ve ever heard speaking truth to power.
m.soundcloud.com/portland-state…
It’s a classic I revisit often.
Incidentally, her voice is one of the calming voice I’ve ever heard speaking truth to power.
m.soundcloud.com/portland-state…
The whole thing is brilliant but these are a few most brilliant excerpts:
“Who are these people who know our sperm count and but they don’t know our names?”
Looking at researchers who study racial health inequities but don’t know anything about actual communities you study 👀
“Who are these people who know our sperm count and but they don’t know our names?”
Looking at researchers who study racial health inequities but don’t know anything about actual communities you study 👀
This part about the fallacy of racial distinctions is major 🔑
“Racism was and is a not only a mark, a public mark, of ignorance. It was and is a monumental fraud”
“Racism was and is a not only a mark, a public mark, of ignorance. It was and is a monumental fraud”
“Nobody really thought that Black people were inferior [...] And they never, ever thought we were inhuman. You don’t give your children over to the care of people whom you believe are inhuman, for your children are the only immortality you can expect.”
And this of course is the speech that gave us this gem:
“It’s important to know [...] the function of racism, the very serious function of racism, which is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining over and over again your reason for being.”
“It’s important to know [...] the function of racism, the very serious function of racism, which is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining over and over again your reason for being.”
Speaking about the need to fight the structural systems (e.g capitalism) reliant on racism & racial castes for power.
“You don’t waste your energy fighting the fever; you must only fight the disease. And the disease is not racism. It is greed and the struggle for power.”
“You don’t waste your energy fighting the fever; you must only fight the disease. And the disease is not racism. It is greed and the struggle for power.”
• • •
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