Professing belief in equality is insufficient for a practical socialist programme

Evidence

Now the question that I would like to ask is: Is it enough for a socialist to say, “I believe in perfect equality in the treatment of the various classes?” To say that such a belief is enough is to disclose a complete lack of understanding of what is involved in socialism. If socialism is a practical programme and is not merely an ideal, distant and far off, the question for a socialist is not whether he believes in equality. The question for him is whether he minds one class ill-treating and suppressing another class as a matter of system, as a matter of principle—and thus allow tyranny and oppression to continue to divide one class from another. — Ambedkar, B R, Annihilation of Caste_ The Annotated…, 853

Categorization

• DEFINE: Ambedkar redefines practical socialism as willingness to overthrow systemic class oppression, not mere belief in equality.