"What America demands in her black champions is a brilliant, powerful body and a dull, bestial mind"
- Eldridge Cleaver
About this Quote
In this quote, Eldridge Cleaver is revealing his belief that America has a specific expectation for black people who are thought about champions or leaders. He suggests that America values physical strength and prowess over intellectual capability in black people. Cleaver utilizes the words "dazzling" and "effective" to describe the wanted body, showing that America wants black champions to be physically impressive and dominant. However, he likewise uses the word "dull" to explain the mind, implying that America does not value intelligence or crucial thinking in black leaders. Cleaver further stresses this by utilizing the word "bestial," which indicates an absence of humankind or civilized behavior. Overall, this quote highlights the societal expectations and bias that black individuals deal with in America.
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