#tie

I rebel at the notion that I can't be part of other groups, that I can't construct identities through elective affinity, that race must be the most important thing about me. Is that what I want on my gravestone: Here lies an African American? ↗

— Henry Louis Gates

#affinity #african #african american #american #construct

It's important to debunk the myths of Africa being this benighted continent civilized only when white people arrived. In fact, Africans had been creators of culture for thousands of years before. These were very intelligent, subtle and sophisticated people, with organized societies and great art. ↗

— Henry Louis Gates

#arrived #art #been #before #being

So, Mexico, Brazil, they wanted their national culture to be 'blackish' - really brown, a beautiful brown blend. And finally, I discovered that in each of these societies the people at the bottom are the darkest skinned with the most African features. ↗

— Henry Louis Gates

#beautiful #blend #bottom #brazil #brown

The historical basis for the gap between the black middle class and underclass shows that ending discrimination, by itself, would not eradicate black poverty and dysfunction. We also need intervention to promulgate a middle-class ethic of success among the poor, while expanding opportunities for economic betterment. ↗

— Henry Louis Gates

#among #basis #betterment #between #black

When Europeans came upon real ruined cities they refused to believe that they had been built by Africans. Here the past has been distorted and denied. ↗

— Henry Louis Gates

#believe #built #came #cities #denied

Treaties are like roses and young girls. They last while they last. ↗

— Charles de Gaulle

#like #roses #treaties #while #young

Treaties, you see, are like girls and roses; they last while they last. ↗

— Charles de Gaulle

#like #roses #see #treaties #while

Furthermore, they were constantly informed by all the camp authorities that they had been abandoned by the world: they were beggars and lucky to receive the daily soup of starvation. ↗

— Martha Gellhorn

#authorities #been #beggars #camp #constantly

In the last camp they all ate grass, until the authorities forbade them to pull it up. They were accustomed to having the fruits of their little communal gardens stolen by the guards, after they had done all the work; but at the last camp everything was stolen. ↗

— Martha Gellhorn

#after #ate #authorities #camp #communal

The World Development Movement, to take just one example, is doing good work. Some political parties are, too. ↗

— Susan George

#doing #doing good #example #good #good work