American author Pearl S. Buck gained notoriety in the early 20th century for her perceptive opinions on racial relations. She frequently emphasized how racial prejudice impacts both those who hold prejudiced views and those who are subjected to discrimination. She talked about how this kind of bias casts a negative light on all parties involved in one of her reflections.

Think of racism as a community's contaminated river. The detrimental effects of the pollution are felt and seen by those who are directly impacted. Buck notes that even people who are not as affected by these immediate repercussions are nevertheless contaminated by the water they consume from the same source. Since everyone depends on this river to survive, the integrity of the entire ecosystem is jeopardized.

The quotation highlights how racial prejudice spreads and has an impact on society as a whole. Those who profit from or support racism may think they are immune to its negative effects, but they are also plagued by it. This symbolic shadow stands for the invisible ways that discrimination compromises moral integrity and the welfare of the community.

Buck promotes a more comprehensive understanding of racial justice and the necessity of group action to confront and eliminate such prejudices by emphasizing this interconnectedness. Her message urges everyone to understand their part in creating an inclusive society in which prejudice cannot exist or flourish.