James Meredith Quotes

In spite of what some people claim, we are not in a post-racial era. I think it's still an important issue to bring up.

We're not able to hide behind myths of this being a post-racial society because Donald Trump has outlined exactly how a large portion of America feels.

I think race in America is a huge one. That's something that needs to be confronted, certainly.

The mantra for the Obama campaign and their surrogates has focused on one thing regarding race, which is to take every opportunity to depict the Republican Party a group of rich white racists.

As important as the presidency is, that's not the only thing to take a look at in determining the racial health of the United States.

Clearly, the Obama presidency hasn't wiped out racial prejudices.

Whites would rather not be involved in race matters, I think.

Blacks essentially play the race card, when necessary as a counter to white privilege.

I don't think that the country is ever ready to have the conversation about race.

Race prejudice is not only a shadow over the colored—it is a shadow over all of us.

We're not so much anti-black as we are pro-white.

The issue of race could benefit from a period of benign neglect.

It really bothers me when people say we live in a postracial America.

I am not sure the issue of race in America will ever be completely solved.

I think the most harmful belief passed on to me - not always directly - was the belief that whatever I did as a Negro, however much we Negroes achieved, despite the presence of some enlightened whites, white society as a whole enjoyed being racists in the secret core of their being and would never, ever give that up.

We need to have a more thoughtful, two-sided conversation about racial issues in this country.

I do not claim to be an expert on race in America.

I think we are aware that post-racialism isn't real, right? I mean, I hope so. I kind of joke that we're post-post-racial.

The only reason race matters is because of racism.

I think sports is one of the places where race plays itself out publicly. Although we pretend it doesn't.

Every single thing in my life is built around race.

It's not surprising to me that in a country born of racial genocide, the issue of race is still an open wound on the American soul. We haven't dealt with it.

I find that the prejudice in this country to color is very great, and I sometimes fear that it is on the increase.

But, on the other hand, I get bored with racism too and recognize that there are still many things to be said about a Black person and a White person loving each other in a racist society.

Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards.