When you hate, the only person that suffers is you because most of the people you hate don't know it and the rest don't care.
Medgar EversRead
The six of us gathered at my house, and we walked to the polls. I'll never forget it. Not a Negro was on the streets, and when we got to the courthouse, the clerk said he wanted to talk with us. When we got into his office, some 15 or 20 armed white men surged in behind us - men I had grown up with, had played with.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the bravery and unity in the face of racial oppression during a time of significant social injustice.
Medgar Evers recounts a personal experience of racial intimidation while exercising the right to vote, highlighting the courage it took to stand up to systemic oppression. It emphasizes the importance of solidarity among individuals facing adversity and the emotional weight of confronting lifelong acquaintances who embody the societal injustices of the era.
Themes
BraveryVotingSolidarityRacial InjusticeCourage
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about civil rights, this quote can be used to illustrate the sacrifices made for voting rights.
More from Medgar Evers
All quotes →As long as God gives me strength to work and try to make things real for my children, I'm going to work for it - even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice.
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First it was the whites, and then their Negro message bearers. And the word was always the same: 'Tell your sons to take their names off the books. Don't show up at the courthouse voting day.'
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It may sound funny, but I love the South. I don't choose to live anywhere else. There's land here, where a man can raise cattle, and I'm going to do it some day.
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The gifts of God should be enjoyed by all citizens in Mississippi.
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Except for teachers, who are 'controlled' as far as his militancy is concerned, good jobs are rare for Negroes.
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