I am an American citizen and feel I am entitled to the same rights as any other citizen.
Nat King ColeRead
I was a guinea pig for some hoodlums who thought they could hurt me and frighten me and keep other Negro entertainers from the South.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects Nat King Cole's experience of facing intimidation and adversity in his career as a Black entertainer.
In this quote, Nat King Cole speaks to the challenges he faced as a Black artist, specifically the attempts by certain individuals to instill fear in him and others in the entertainment industry. He uses the metaphor of being a 'guinea pig' to highlight how he was subjected to bullying tactics aimed at suppressing his success and the success of other entertainers from the South. His resilience and determination in the face of such adversity underline the courage required to pursue one's passion despite external pressures and threats.
Themes
CourageFearEntertainmentResilienceIntimidation
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about overcoming fear in the face of adversity.
More from Nat King Cole
All quotes →Music is emotional, and you may catch a musician in a very unemotional mood or you may not be in the same frame of mind as the musician. So a critic will often say a musician is slipping.
Nat King ColeRead
I may be helping to bring harmony between people through my music.
Nat King ColeRead
The whites come to applaud a Negro performer just like the colored do. When you've got the respect of white and colored, you can ease a lot of things.
Nat King ColeRead
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