"Well of course there's been a great deal of progress over the last 40 years. We don't have laws that segregate black people within the society any longer"

Angela Davis, a prominent political activist and scholar, addresses the historic and ongoing struggle for racial equality in her statement. The quote assesses the progress made since the height of the civil rights motion in the United States, acknowledging substantial legal and social developments over the previous four years.

First of all, Davis highlights an important aspect of progress: the abolition of laws that imposed racial segregation. Such laws, especially Jim Crow laws in the Southern United States, institutionalized racial discrimination and inequality. Their dismantlement marked a legal and social success for civil rights activists and laid the groundwork for further developments toward racial equality.

However, Davis's usage of "of course" may indicate an expectation that these modifications had actually been long overdue, accentuating the arduously slow rate of systemic modification. Her acknowledgment of progress does not recommend complacency; rather, it acts as a pointer of the unrelenting efforts by activists throughout the years, consisting of those of Davis herself, to eradicate overt forms of racial discrimination.

Furthermore, by concentrating on legal progress, Davis implicitly recommends that legislation is just one measurement of equality. The lack of formal partition laws does not necessarily relate to the complete eradication of racial injustice. Disparities in wealth, education, employment, and the criminal justice system show that systemic racism persists in more insidious types.

Thus, while Davis recognizes and commemorates the development made, her declaration can also be analyzed as a call to action. It highlights the need of continuing the fight against subtler, yet deeply ingrained, types of bigotry that sustain despite legal advancements. The continuous discussion about racial justice requires attention not only to the laws on the books but likewise to the lived experiences of marginalized neighborhoods.

In essence, Angela Davis's quote records a double story: a recognition of historic development and a difficulty to address the complexities of racial justice beyond legal accomplishments.