Forest Whitaker Quotes

Ours has not been a racially democratic society for 300 years.

The white man believes in equality, but apparently believes the white man is more equal than the Indian.

Opportunity seems to be color-coded here in America

We have gaps that are rooted in systemic racism.

When the civil rights battle was won, all the Jews and hippies and artists were middle class white people and all the blacks were still poor. Materially, not much changed.

While housing discrimination and segregation in 2005 still affect millions of people, that's not the way it has to be. Some things can change and should.

Separate and unequal didn't work 100 years ago. It will not work today.

Social equity is based on justice; politics change on the opinion of the time. The black man's skin will be a mark of social inferiority so long as white men are conceited, ignorant, unjust, and prejudiced. You cannot legislate these qualities out of the white - you must steal them out by teaching, illustration, and example.

When you allow racial disparity and institutional inequity to affect one part of the country, eventually it's coming back to get everyone.

He shatters the myth of white supremacy once and for all.

Integration in the fields of education, housing, transportation and public accommodations will be of limited extent and duration so long as fundamental economic inequality along racial lines persist.

We have a lot of people that are oppressed. We have a lot of people that aren't treated equally, aren't given equal opportunities. Police brutality is a huge thing that needs to be addressed. There are a lot of issues that need to be talked about, need to be brought to life, and we need to fix those.

Although slavery may have been abolished, the crippling poison of racism still persists, and the struggle still continues.

The success of the few does not excuse the caste-like system that exists for many. In fact, black exceptionalism - the high-profile, highly visible examples of the black success - actually serves to justify and rationalize mass incarceration.

When the world's moving towards being the most inclusive it's ever been, it's unthinkable that certain basic aspects of life are still so unfair for the black community.

I don't appreciate people who discriminate on the basis of colour.

I think it's gonna take a sincere empathy and compassion for people of all races, to really reflect and process on the true history of the black community in this country. The history has been filled with incredible oppression and we really have to acknowledge that, to start to change the lens of how we see true equality.

Systemic racism is a problem from every aspect of life.

I'm always going to say, 'I think there is racism' and I want to stamp it out.

The unified message in this fight against systemic racism and racial inequality is something that our entire Association is united to fight against.

Separate but equal does not work.

I say we haven't ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it.

Had it not been for the race problem early thrust upon me and enveloping me, I should have probably been an unquestioning worshipper at the shrine of the established social order and of the economic development into which I was born.

Racial inequality is a big problem.

Racism is cruel and unjust. It cuts deep and lingers long in individual and community memories. And it is not a thing of the past....We all have a duty to do what we can to turn this around.