"What I am for is justice for everyone, just like it says in the Constitution"
About this Quote
Richard Pryor’s statement, “What I am for is justice for everyone, just like it says in the Constitution,” champions the foundational ideals upon which the United States was built. Rooted in the language and promises enshrined in the Constitution, Pryor’s words place emphasis on a universal standard of fairness and equity in the American legal system. The Constitution speaks explicitly of establishing justice, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty for all people, and Pryor invokes these principles as a call to action rather than a passive historical fact.
The force of the statement draws from the dissonance often seen between the lofty ideals of constitutional justice and the lived reality of many individuals, especially among marginalized populations. By referencing “justice for everyone,” Pryor insists that citizenship and humanity should guarantee fair treatment, dignity, and equal protection under the law, regardless of race, social status, or background. His mention of the Constitution underscores that this aspiration is not radical or unattainable, it is a promise made to every American by the very document that governs the nation.
There is also a subtle critique embedded within the words, highlighting the gap between constitutional declarations and their implementation. Pryor’s advocacy is not for selective justice, justice for some, or conditional justice, he presses for the undiluted version, the one the nation’s founding text extols. The statement functions as both an affirmation of core American values and a challenge to all individuals and institutions responsible for upholding them.
By expressing support for justice “for everyone,” Pryor aligns himself with a tradition of civil rights advocates and reformers who have consistently reminded the country of its obligations to its people. His words invite introspection, urging society to reexamine whom the Constitution serves and how its promises can be realized fully and equally, so that justice becomes not merely an ideal but a lived reality for all.
The force of the statement draws from the dissonance often seen between the lofty ideals of constitutional justice and the lived reality of many individuals, especially among marginalized populations. By referencing “justice for everyone,” Pryor insists that citizenship and humanity should guarantee fair treatment, dignity, and equal protection under the law, regardless of race, social status, or background. His mention of the Constitution underscores that this aspiration is not radical or unattainable, it is a promise made to every American by the very document that governs the nation.
There is also a subtle critique embedded within the words, highlighting the gap between constitutional declarations and their implementation. Pryor’s advocacy is not for selective justice, justice for some, or conditional justice, he presses for the undiluted version, the one the nation’s founding text extols. The statement functions as both an affirmation of core American values and a challenge to all individuals and institutions responsible for upholding them.
By expressing support for justice “for everyone,” Pryor aligns himself with a tradition of civil rights advocates and reformers who have consistently reminded the country of its obligations to its people. His words invite introspection, urging society to reexamine whom the Constitution serves and how its promises can be realized fully and equally, so that justice becomes not merely an ideal but a lived reality for all.
Quote Details
| Topic | Justice |
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