Growing up in Orangeburg, I didn't know that I lived in the 'corridor of shame.' I was the son of a single mom who learned to read from comic books. My grandparents helped raise me.
Jaime HarrisonRead
Every February, we reflect on and honor the achievements, struggles, and icons that comprise Black history. As a proud, Black man running for office and raising two young, Black boys in the South, I am acutely aware that I stand on the shoulders of giants.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of honoring the contributions of Black figures in history while acknowledging personal responsibility as a leader and role model.
In this quote, Jaime Harrison reflects on the significance of Black history, touching upon the challenges and triumphs that have shaped the community. He conveys a deep sense of pride in his heritage, recognizing that his own achievements are built upon the legacy of influential Black leaders and icons. This acknowledgment extends to his role as a father, where he strives to instill the same pride and awareness of their history in his sons, ensuring they understand their roots and the giants whose efforts have paved the way for their future.
Themes
Black HistoryLegacyLeadershipPrideResponsibility
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during Black History Month celebrations to inspire discussions about heritage.
More from Jaime Harrison
All quotes →Similar quotes
History is not history unless it is the truth.
Abraham LincolnRead
I can say that we are very clear in our mind about the responsibility of the national soldiers for the break with civilisation that was the Shoah. We are firmly convinced that this is something that will have to be handed over to generations to come... so we don't see any reason to change our view of history.
Angela MerkelRead
It all happened so fast. The ghetto. The deportation. The sealed cattle car. The fiery altar upon which the history of our people and the future of mankind were meant to be sacrificed.
Elie WieselRead
History suggests that the disillusioned and the disaffected do not readily take to the streets nor man the barricades to defend a system that failed to defend them.
David OlusogaRead
And in the absence of facts, myth rushes in, the kudzu of history.
Stacy SchiffRead
One thing 'not right' on the 50th anniversary of the Selma marches is the sad fact that the Edmund Pettus Bridge hasn't been renamed the John Lewis Bridge.
Douglas BrinkleyRead