The March on Washington was a March for Jobs and Freedom. There are still too many people who are unemployed or underemployed in America - they're black, white, Latino, Native American and Asian American.
John LewisRead
My parents told me in the very beginning as a young child when I raised the question about segregation and racial discrimination, they told me not to get in the way, not to get in trouble, not to make any noise.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the lessons taught by parents about avoiding conflict and staying safe in the face of injustice.
John Lewis shares a poignant memory of his childhood, highlighting the advice given by his parents regarding segregation and racial discrimination. They urged him to remain quiet and not to cause trouble, which reflects a common sentiment among marginalized communities who were advised to avoid confrontation and maintain safety. This statement embodies the struggle between the desire for justice and the fear of the consequences of standing up against societal wrongs.
Themes
SegregationDiscriminationCourageParentsAdvocacy
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a speech about civil rights can contextualize the hesitance of individuals to engage in activism.
More from John Lewis
All quotes →The scars and stains of racism are still deeply embedded in the American society.
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Customs, traditions, laws should be flexible, within good reason, if that is what it takes to make our democracy work.
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I say to people today, 'You must be prepared if you believe in something. If you believe in something, you have to go for it. As individuals, we may not live to see the end.'
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We need someone who is going to stand up, speak up, and speak out for the people who need help, for the people who have been discriminated against.
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If it hadn't been for that march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday, there would be no Barack Obama as President of the United States of America.
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