The Church and Prejudice: Racial Prejudice Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Sentence)

Quote #4

Thus you see, my hearers, this prejudice goes even into the church of God. And there are those who carry it so far that it is disagreeable to them even to think of going to heaven, if colored people are going there too. And whence comes it? The grand cause is slavery; but there are others less prominent; one of them is the way in which children in this part of the country are instructed to regard the blacks. (19-22)

This is the point where Douglass begins to connect the three major themes of the speech (prejudice, religion, and slavery). He's turning from his examples of prejudice experienced in church to talk about the source of that prejudice.

Quote #5

Yet people in general will say they like colored men as well as any other, but in their proper place! They assign us that place; they don't let us do it for ourselves, nor will they allow us a voice in the decision. They will not allow that we have a head to think, and a heart to feel, and a soul to aspire. They treat us not as men, but as dogs—they cry "Stu-boy!" and expect us to run and do their bidding. That's the way we are liked. (24-28)

Plenty of people did say things like this at the time: "Sure, I'm fine with black people as long as they stay in their place." And other people—in the North and the South—kept saying them right on through the 20th century.

Some people are still saying this kind of thing, and not just about people of other races. People in the LGBT community, women, immigrants—we could go on—are also used to this kind of talk.