I met this girl when I was ten years old,_x000D_ _x000D_ And what I loved most she had so much soul._x000D_ _x000D_ She was old school, when I was just a shorty_x000D_ _x000D_ Never knew throughout my life she would be there for me.
CommonRead
Man, if I get a chance to speak on the microphone, I've got to say something somewhere in there. You know, I'm going to laugh and have fun, too, but something has to be said that has some substance, because this is a platform, and the power that we have with words and with this microphone is phenomenal.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the responsibility of using one's voice to convey meaningful messages.
In this quote, Common reflects on the importance of using the microphone, a symbol of communication, to express significant ideas while also allowing room for enjoyment and laughter. He acknowledges that with the power of words comes a responsibility to share something of substance to impact listeners positively, highlighting the dual role of entertainment and enlightenment in artistic expression.
In practice
Using this quote during a speech about the importance of impactful communication.
I met this girl when I was ten years old,_x000D_ _x000D_ And what I loved most she had so much soul._x000D_ _x000D_ She was old school, when I was just a shorty_x000D_ _x000D_ Never knew throughout my life she would be there for me.
I am the unarmed black kid who maybe needed a hand, but instead was given a bullet.
As I got to know the people of the Civil Rights Movement, I realized... _x000D_ I am the hopeful black woman who was denied her right to vote. _x000D_ I am the caring white supporter killed on the front lines of freedom. _x000D_ I am the unarmed black kid who maybe needed a hand, but instead was given a bullet. I am the two fallen police officers murdered in the line of duty. 'Selma' has awakened my humanity.
It was incredible to have J Dilla in your dining room making beats - it was one of the greatest experiences I've had.
I look into mother's stomach, wonder if you are a boy or a girl_x000D_ _x000D_ Turnin' this woman's womb into a tomb_x000D_ _x000D_ But she and I agree, a seed we don't need_x000D_ _x000D_ You would've been much more than a mouth to feed_x000D_ _x000D_ But someone I would've fed this information I read_x000D_ _x000D_ To someone my life for you I would've had to leave_x000D_ _x000D_ Instead I led you to death.
Speak from your mind and people will hear you with their mind. Speak from your heart and people will hear you with their heart.
All that has been integrated into NVC has been known for centuries about consciousness, language, communication skills, and use of power that enable us to maintain a perspective of empathy for ourselves and others, even under trying conditions.
Man's inability to communicate is a result of his failure to listen effectively.
There is a difference between listening and waiting for your turn to speak.
It does not matter what you know about anything if you cannot communicate to your people. In that event, you are not even a failure. You're just not there.
Labeling and diagnosis is a catastrophic way to communicate. Telling other people what's wrong with them greatly reduces, almost to zero, the probability that we're going to get what we're after.
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