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Quote by Ishmael Reed

“I'm sure that a previous generation of Jews who published radical newspapers and journals would be critical of [David] Simon's projects. These were left wingers who suffered casualties in some of bloodiest strikes in American history.”

Quote by Ishmael Reed

Author

Ishmael Reed is an American poet, novelist, and playwright. Known for his unique literary style and profound exploration of racial, class, and gender issues, Reed was born on February 22, 1938. more

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“I think there is a legitimate critique of reformism, as a politics that is content with making small changes in society without asking for bigger and deeper changes. And revolutionary reforms, meaning actions that we take in small ways to make the world a better place and disrupt some of the ways that capitalism is reproduced.”

Thinking World Way Action Capitalism Bigger Asking Deeper Reform Revolutionary Better Place Critique Small Changes Changes In Society

Author:Cynthia Kauffman

“We need to hold in our hearts the possibility of a better world, not because we have candy-coated the problems or lied about what we can accomplish, but because we know that we do often win and make a difference, and that all the good things we have in the world are the results of those who have had the courage and commitment to have done this work before us.”

Knows World Needs Heart Done Problem Winning Differences Results Possibility Commitment Good Things Accomplish Making A Difference Candy Lied

Author:Cynthia Kauffman

“There is a cultural norm on the left of being afraid to declare victory, which is related to the binary of reform/revolution. Whereas reformists are winning small gains, revolutionaries don't want people to be satisfied with those small victories because they worry this will lead to acceptance of the bigger picture of capitalism domination, and so they find a way to turn every victory into a defeat. In the book, I call for a culture of declaring victory wherever we can.”

“I walked out on American Gangster: this evil piece of dreck. Defenders of this junk say that these movies give Black actors jobs. So did "Birth of a Nation."”

Giving Jobs Evil Actors Nations Black Pieces Birth Junk Gangsters Defenders

Author:Ishmael Reed

“You build movements and keep people in a struggle when it feels productive. Anti-capitalists have typically been the people in movements who have declared every gain to be a trick of the capitalist class to buy us off. That line isn't very inspiring, and it shows no sensitivity to how social movements actually succeed.”

People Feels Shows Social Lines Class Struggle Movement Succeed Gains Tricks Productive Capitalist Sensitivity Social Movements Very Inspiring

Author:Cynthia Kauffman

“Yes it is true that pro-capitalist forces have a lot of power. But so did slave-holding racists. We give ourselves hope when we conceptualize capitalism as a set of practices that can be challenged by fighting the piece of the puzzle we feel most compelled to fight.”

Giving Feels Fighting Force Practice Pieces Capitalism Slave Racist Capitalist Puzzles Compelled

Author:Cynthia Kauffman

“I think Black intellectuals see too deeply. That's the problem. It's a cause of anxiety, because we see things differently.”

Thinking Problem Causes Black Anxiety

Author:Ishmael Reed

“My generation of writers has been prone to premature illness and death, especially the women. When Black male writers meet it's like a session of the American Diabetic Association.”

Has Beens Black Generations Males Illness Association Session My Generation Premature Black Males Illness And Death

Author:Ishmael Reed

“Given all of the anti-Muslim propaganda that's being disseminated by The American Nazi media, you have to be careful. It can stress you out.”

Given Media Stress Careful Propaganda Be Careful Nazi

Author:Ishmael Reed

“Americans are fickle. And what constitutes the enemy is always changing. Believe it or not, at one time Blacks were the favored model minority over Asian Americans.”

Believe Enemy Models Minorities One Time Asian Fickle Asian American

Author:Ishmael Reed