As I have always said, those closest to the pain should be closest to the power.
Interpretation
Empower those who experience hardship to have a voice in decision-making.
Ayanna Pressley's quote emphasizes the importance of including individuals who directly experience pain and hardship in positions of power and influence. It underscores the belief that those who understand and endure struggles are best equipped to lead and advocate for meaningful change, as their insights can drive actions that truly address the needs of the affected communities.
In practice
In a discussion on social justice, one might say, 'As I have always said, those closest to the pain should be closest to the power.'
I'm not naive. All politics is about identity, right? Neighborhood politics, cultural politics, issue politics. It's not as though I don't get that. It's just - it has to be, I think, tempered in a way that is for our overall advancement and not to our detriment or obliteration. When I say 'our,' I don't mean just communities of color.
We should be uncomfortable with the growing gaps in our society, and we cannot allow ourselves to become desensitized to these injustices.
We desperately need comprehensive immigration reform in this nation, and yes, comprehensive immigration reform proposals are nuanced and complicated, but you know what shouldn't be? Our capacity to see each other's humanity.
You cannot have a government for and by the people if it is not represented by all of the people.
Raising me as a single parent, my mother held many jobs. Most of them had to do with the betterment and the advancement of our community and society at large. I grew up seeing her active in ministries at our church, with the homeless, as a social worker, with elderly, with youth, as a children's rights organizer with the Urban League of Chicago.
At the women's march, we held signs that said, 'Today we march, tomorrow we run.' They didn't believe us, but it's coming to pass.
Whether at home or abroad, the task of statesman is to work with human nature warts and all, and to draw on instincts and even prejudices that can be turned to good purpose. It is never to try to recreate Mankind in a new image.
If a general shows confidence in his men but always insists on his orders being obeyed, the gain will be mutual.
Great leaders don't succeed because they are great. They succeed because they bring out the greatness in others.
I'm not a one-man show. I was never that in my life, and I never want to be that.
I have some strategical vision, I could calculate some few moves ahead and I have an intellect that is badly missed in the country which is run by generals and colonels.
The ageless melody, unheard, heals; the healing vision, unseen, leads; the true leaders, immortal, know...
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