“But race is the child of racism, not the father”

Simplified Meaning:

The idea here is that racism came first and then the concept of race was created because of it. Think about it this way: Imagine people started treating others unfairly just because of small differences, like how they look. Over time, this unfair treatment, or racism, led to the idea that these differences meant something important and divided people into different groups, called races. For example, in history, European colonizers treated people in Africa and the Americas badly because they believed they were superior. To justify their actions, they said people from different regions belonged to different races and that some races were better than others. This unfair belief system created the divisions we now call race. In today's world, understanding this can help us see that racism is the root problem. If we tackle racism and treat everyone fairly, the divisions we see between races could start to fade away. By focusing on equality and fighting unfair treatment, we can create a more just and united society.