A lot of people think the Breakfast for Children program is charity. But what does it do? It takes the people from a stage to another stage. Any program that's revolutionary is an advancing program. Revolution is change.
Fred HamptonRead
The Black Panther Party stood up and said that we don't care what anybody says. We don't think fighting fire with fire is best; we think you fight fire with water best.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of non-violent resistance in facing aggression and injustice.
Fred Hampton's quote reflects the Black Panther Party's philosophy of advocating for a more constructive and peaceful approach to conflict, suggesting that responding to aggression with violence only perpetuates a cycle of hostility. Instead, it promotes the idea that a calm and measured response—represented metaphorically by 'water'—is more effective in extinguishing conflict and fostering understanding.
Themes
NonviolenceConflictResponseJusticeActivism
In practice
Example use cases
During a community meeting about social justice, this quote could be used to encourage peaceful protest methods.
More from Fred Hampton
All quotes →We say that we will work with anybody and form a coalition with anybody that has revolution on their mind.
Fred HamptonRead
We're not a racist organization, because we understand that racism is an excuse used for capitalism, and we know that racism is just - it's a byproduct of capitalism.
Fred HamptonRead
We might not be back. I might be in jail. I might be anywhere. But when I leave, you'll remember I said, with the last words on my lips, that I am a revolutionary. And you're going to have to keep on saying that. You're going to have to say that I am a proletariat; I am the people.
Fred HamptonRead
Everything would be alright if everything was put back in the hands of the people, and we're going to have to put it back in the hands of the people.
Fred HamptonRead
We say primarily that the priority of this struggle is class. That Marx and Lenin and Che Guevara and Mao Tse-Tung, and anybody else who ever said or knew or practiced anything about revolution, always said that a revolution is a class struggle.
Fred HamptonRead
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