"The closer a Negro got to the ballot box, the more he looked like a rapist"

This quote by E. Franklin Frazier is a commentary on the racism and discrimination dealt with by African Americans in the early 20th century. It implies that the closer an African American got to the tally box, the more they were seen as a hazard to white society. This quote reflects the fear and bias that white individuals had towards African Americans, and the concept that they were viewed as criminals and rapists. It likewise speaks to the systemic bigotry that African Americans dealt with in the United States, as they were denied the right to vote and were seen as a threat to white society. This quote is a powerful suggestion of the bigotry and discrimination that African Americans dealt with in the past, and how far we have actually been available in regards to civil rights and equality.