Political Quotes

On the recordSeptember 25, 2017
I thank the gentleman, my friend from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Congressman Dwight Evans, for anchoring this Special Order hour, the subject of which is Root Out Racism, #rootoutracism. It is a sensitive topic, somewhat uncomfortable for people, both Black and White, or shall I say dark-skinned and light-skinned. {time} 2000 It is an uncomfortable subject, and no one wants to be accused of being a racist. It has all kinds of emotional connotations and negative connotations, as it should. Because what racism actually is, is a belief, or a doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievements, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior, and has the right to rule others. So in other words, what racism is, is a concept that one believes that their race is superior to the race of someone else. And how racism manifests itself in America, historically, has been that if you are a racist, you are a White person, and you believe that your race is superior to that of a dark-skinned person, a Black person. That has been how racism has unfolded here in America since the White man came to America. Of course, when Christopher Columbus, an Anglo-Saxon from Spain, came to America and discovered America, America was populated, at that time, by what we called the Red man, the Indian, a dark-skinned individual-- darker than the Anglo-Saxon.…
Said by
Hank Johnson
Democratic · Georgia

Share

More from Hank Johnson

Mar 2, 2025

President Zelensky may need to step down following the White House clash.

democracynow.org
Jun 12, 2024

H.R. 7039, the Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act, introduced by Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) would help federal transit policy take a serious step in the right direction.

congress.gov
Feb 27, 2025

It’s a really important principle, and I hope that we can employ that, because it makes a big difference in the calculations.

nbcnews.com
Dec 12, 2024

I thank the ranking member for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to S. 4199. You don't get to pick the horse after that horse has already won the race, but that is exactly what my Republican colleagues are…

govinfo.gov

Other voices in this conversation