When we’re unemployed, we’re called lazy; when the whites are unemployed it’s called a depression.
Meaning of the quote
This quote points out how people are treated differently based on their race. When people who are not white are unemployed, they are often called lazy. But when white people are unemployed, it's seen as a bigger problem - a "depression." The quote highlights the unfair way society views and labels different groups of people.
About Jesse Jackson
Jesse Jackson is an influential American civil rights activist, politician, and Baptist minister. He was a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr. and has had a long career in politics, including running for president in 1984 and 1988. Jackson is also known for his work on international issues and his criticism of conservative policies.
Tags
More quotes from Jesse Jackson
In politics, an organized minority is a political majority.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
When the doors of opportunity swing open, we must make sure that we are not too drunk or too indifferent to walk through.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Leadership cannot just go along to get along. Leadership must meet the moral challenge of the day.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
In many ways, history is marked as ‘before’ and ‘after’ Rosa Parks. She sat down in order that we all might stand up, and the walls of segregation came down.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
A check or credit card, a Gucci bag strap, anything of value will do. Give as you live.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Both tears and sweat are salty, but they render a different result. Tears will get you sympathy; sweat will get you change.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
If there are occasions when my grape turned into a raisin and my joy bell lost its resonance, please forgive me. Charge it to my head and not to my heart.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
I mean, the fight for a health care bill to cover all Americans and leave none behind is attacked as being a race appeal, which is not true, but then it’s put out in the media as true.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it, I know I can achieve it.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
I hear that melting-pot stuff a lot, and all I can say is that we haven’t melted.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
I am not a perfect servant. I am a public servant doing my best against the odds. As I develop and serve, be patient. God is not finished with me yet.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
When we’re unemployed, we’re called lazy; when the whites are unemployed it’s called a depression.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
America is not a blanket woven from one thread, one color, one cloth.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
It is time for us to turn to each other, not on each other.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
I know they are all environmentalists. I heard a lot of my speeches recycled.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
If you run, you might lose. If you don’t run, you’re guaranteed to lose.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Our dreams must be stronger than our memories. We must be pulled by our dreams, rater than pushed by our memories.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Your children need your presence more than your presents.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Leadership has a harder job to do than just choose sides. It must bring sides together.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
A man must be willing to die for justice. Death is an inescapable reality and men die daily, but good deeds live forever.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Today’s students can put dope in their veins or hope in their brains. If they can conceive it and believe it, they can achieve it. They must know it is not their aptitude but their attitude that will determine their altitude.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Deliberation and debate is the way you stir the soul of our democracy.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
We must not measure greatness from the mansion down, but from the manger up.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
From seeds of his body blossomed the flower that liberated a people and touched the soul of a nation.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
At the end of the day, we must go forward with hope and not backward by fear and division.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Time is neutral and does not change things. With courage and initiative, leaders change things.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
We’ve removed the ceiling above our dreams. There are no more impossible dreams.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Keep hope alive!
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Great things happen in small places. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Jesse Jackson was born in Greenville.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping him up.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
So here we are today with a new conversation. When University of Georgia plays Georgia Tech, it’s uniform color versus skin color. We have – we’ve overcome that level of racial fear.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
I cast my bread on the waters long ago. Now it’s time for you to send it back to me – toasted and buttered on both sides.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
No one should negotiate their dreams. Dreams must be free to fly high. No government, no legislature, has a right to limit your dreams. You should never agree to surrender your dreams.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition
George Bush has met more foreign heads of state than I have. But a substantial number of them were dead.
American Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition