When you go through all your life processing and abusing your hair so it will look like the hair of another race of people then you are making a statement and the statement is clear
Assata ShakurRead
Peace is a rare gift. Peace of mind, peaceful sleeps, and peaceful spirits are all luxuries that few rebels can ever afford.
Interpretation
Peace is a valuable and rare state of being that not everyone can achieve, especially those who resist authority.
In this quote, Assata Shakur emphasizes the notion that true peace—whether it be a calm mind, restful sleep, or a serene spirit—is an expensive luxury. For individuals who actively rebel against societal norms or injustices, maintaining such a sense of tranquility can seem almost unattainable, illustrating the internal and external struggles they face while seeking justice or change.
In practice
Use this quote during a discussion about mental health and the importance of peace of mind.
When you go through all your life processing and abusing your hair so it will look like the hair of another race of people then you are making a statement and the statement is clear
Part of being a revolutionary is creating a vision that is more humane. That is more fun, too. That is more loving. It's really working to create something beautiful.
We had to learn that we're beautiful. We had to relearn something forcefully taken from us. We had to learn about Black power. People have power if we unite. We learned the importance of coming together and being active
I was sentenced to life plus 30 years by an all-White jury. What I saw in prison was wall-to-wall Black flesh in chains. Women caged in cells. But we're the terrorists. It just doesn't make sense.
My life wasn't beautiful and creative before I became politically active. My life was totally changed when I began to struggle.
And if I know anything at all, it's that a wall is just a wall and nothing more at all. It can be broken down.
Self-esteem isn't everything; it's just that there's nothing without it.
If a man achieves victory over this body, who in the world can exercise power over him? He who rules himself rules over the whole world.
Enthusiasm is the leaping lightning, not to be measured by the horse-power of the understanding
It is the Law that any difficulties that can come to you at any time, no matter what they are, must be exactly what you need most at the moment, to enable you to take the next step forward by overcoming them. The only real misfortune, the only real tragedy, comes when we suffer without learning the lesson.
There are times when you should listen to what people say about you, but also a lot of times you just don't need to listen so much. Don't worry so much and just go. Unless you're, like, in danger, and then don't. And then run, girl.
You cannot measure a man by his failures. You must know what use he makes of them. What did they mean to him. What did he get out of them.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.