"Discrimination is a hellhound that gnaws at Negroes in every waking moment of their lives to remind them that the lie of their inferiority is accepted as truth in the society dominating them"
- Martin Luther King Jr.
About this Quote
This quote by Martin Luther King Jr. speaks with the reality of discrimination that African Americans face in the United States. He paints a vivid photo of the discrimination that African Americans experience as a hellhound that is constantly gnawing at them. This metaphor stresses the continuous presence of discrimination in their lives and how it acts as a tip of the lie of their inferiority that is accepted as fact in the society that controls them. This quote talks to the systemic racism that African Americans have dealt with for centuries and the need for modification. It is a powerful suggestion of the need for equality and justice for all individuals, no matter race.
"Without culture, and the relative freedom it implies, society, even when perfect, is but a jungle. This is why any authentic creation is a gift to the future"