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.
John LewisRead
Customs, traditions, laws should be flexible, within good reason, if that is what it takes to make our democracy work.
John LewisRead
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.'
John LewisRead
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.
John LewisRead
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.
John LewisRead
Similar quotes
Bullies are always cowards at heart and may be credited with a pretty safe instinct in scenting their prey.
Anna Julia CooperRead
Vulnerability is the cornerstone of confidence.
Bren BrownRead
Fear is, I believe, a most effective tool in destroying the soul of an individual - and the soul of a people.
Anwar SadatRead
I had always imagined Rosa Parks as a stately woman with a bold temperament, someone who could easily stand up to a busload of glowering passengers. But when she died in 2005 at the age of ninety-two, the flood of obituaries recalled her as soft-spoken, sweet, and small in stature. They said she was "timid and shy" but had "the courage of a lion." They were full of phrases like "radical humility" and "quiet fortitude.
Susan CainRead
I would like to keep fighting until I have my 100th victory. But if I lose, I'll lose fighting hard, with pride and dignity.
Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.Read
Let no one ever shy away from the claim that Jews have power, that Jews have influence. We have learned the terrible lesson of history; that unless we have influence and power, disproportionate to our small numbers - immoral results will occur. We need power. And we must continue to use our power. Power which we earned, power which no one gave us on a silver platter, power which we worked hard for - use that power in the interests of justice.
Alan DershowitzRead