There's not an American in this country free until every one of us is free.
Jackie RobinsonRead
I want everybody to understand that I am an American Negro first before I am a member of any political party.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Jackie Robinson emphasizes the importance of his racial identity over political affiliation.
In this quote, Jackie Robinson asserts that his identity as an African American is fundamental to who he is, prioritizing it over his roles in any political party. This statement reflects the complexity of identity and the significance of race in America, highlighting that personal identity and societal roles can intersect in unique and profound ways.
Themes
IdentityRacePoliticsAmericanNegro
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on civil rights, you might reference this quote to emphasize the importance of racial identity.
More from Jackie Robinson
All quotes βThe way I figured it, I was even with baseball and baseball with me. The game had done much for me, and I had done much for it.
Jackie RobinsonRead
My problem was my inability to spend much time at home. I thought my family was secure, so I went running around everyplace else. I guess I had more of an effect on other people's kids than I did my own.
Jackie RobinsonRead
I had no future with the Dodgers, because I was too closely identified with Branch Rickey. After the club was taken over by Walter O'Malley, you couldn't even mention Mr. Rickey's name in front of him. I considered Mr. Rickey the greatest human being I had ever known.
Jackie RobinsonRead
The colonel replied that he didn't care how my men had got the job done. He was happy that it had been accomplished. He said that, obviously, no matter how much or how little I knew technically, I was able to get the best out of people I worked with.
Jackie RobinsonRead
When I look back at what I had to go through in black baseball, I can only marvel at the many black players who stuck it out for years in the Jim Crow leagues because they had nowhere else to go.
Jackie RobinsonRead
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