If we have the courage and tenacity of our forebears, who stood firmly like a rock against the lash of slavery, we shall find a way to do for our day what they did for theirs.
Mary Mcleod BethuneRead
What does the Negro want? His answer is very simple. He wants only what all other Americans want. He wants opportunity to make real what the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and the Bill of Rights say, what the Four Freedoms establish. While he knows these ideals are open to no man completely, he wants only his equal chance to obtain them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses the desire for equality and opportunity for all individuals, especially for African Americans.
Mary McLeod Bethune's quote emphasizes that the aspirations of African Americans are not unique but rather aligned with the universal desires for freedom and equality as articulated in foundational American documents. She highlights the need for equal opportunities to achieve these ideals, reminding us that while full realization may be unattainable for anyone, the pursuit of equity is a vital goal.
Themes
EqualityOpportunityFreedomJusticeRights
In practice
Example use cases
Use this quote in a speech about civil rights to highlight the importance of equal opportunity.
More from Mary Mcleod Bethune
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Whatever the white man has done, we have done, and often better.
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