We shouldn't be seeking the respect of an unjust system that will not respect us on the basis of our humanity alone.

Mychal Denzel Smith
About This Quote

We should not be seeking the respect of an unjust system that will not respect us on the basis of our humanity alone. In this quote, Nelson Mandela is speaking about the fact that he has been released from prison and some people are still displeased with his leadership because he is black. He feels very strongly that the only reason they do not respect him is because he is a black man. He asserts that a person’s worth simply cannot be measured by their skin color.

Source: Invisible Man, Got The Whole World Watching: A Young Black Mans Education

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