Shelby Steele Quotes

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.

I have nothing to do with racism in America; it was here when I got here.

Our sport has always had somewhat of a racist label to it.

The biggest thing is we need to stop acting like racism don't exist.

If you are accused of racism, to deny racism is proof of racism.

I don't think many people understand what racism is. The intellectuals use it like toilet paper; it's something they can use. It's not something they live.

Racism is not dead. Definitely, there are these biases.

There's sort of a persistent misperception that talking about race is black folk's burden. Ultimately, only men can end sexism, and only white people can end racism.

I was lucky enough to occasionally break out of that racist situation that prevails in the Hollywood film production community. But it was racist then and it will always be that way. It will never be otherwise.

While we dance in the streets and pat ourselves on the back for being a nation great enough to reach beyond racial divides to elect our first African-American president, let us not forget that we remain a nation still proudly practicing prejudice.

My personal opinion is that you can't be racist towards white people. You can be prejudiced about them, but being prejudiced isn't an illegal act, whereas being racist can be.

It's no surprise that White people say things when they are together about Black people.

White people are very good at acting like they're not racist. They deserve an Academy Award for that.

Seems to me that the institutions that function in this country are clearly racist, and that they're built upon racism.

It's hard to say when or if we will actually arrive at that place called 'post-racial', or, better yet, post-racism.

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

All too many white Americans are horrified not with conditions of Negro life, but with the product of these conditions, the Negro himself.

We don't realize how much racism has tainted our self-image as human beings.

Of course there's racism in this country, and we have a terrible history of that in this nation.

As a black man, sometimes you can't tell if what you're seeing has underlying bigotry, or it's a normal conversation and you're being paranoid. That dynamic in itself is unsettling. I admit sometimes I see race and racism when its not there.

We need a more substantive conversation around race relations and the way people of color are treated.

In our country, racism is never far below the surface.

I think racism is something that is passed on and taught to our kids, and that's a shame.

There are not grades of racism. There's racism.

It doesn't even feel like racism is real. It just feels like the weirdest ploy, like we're just being had on so many levels. It's even kind of funny when you think about it. A reason not to like someone is 'because you're black.' C'mon, man. How dumb is that?