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
Only the strong go crazy. The weak just go along.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that only those with strength and passion react intensely to societal pressures, while the weak remain complacent.
Assata Shakur's quote highlights the dichotomy between strength and weakness in facing societal norms and expectations. It implies that true strength often leads individuals to question and challenge the status quo, potentially leading to intense emotional turmoil, while those who lack such strength may choose to conform and follow the crowd, thereby avoiding confrontation with difficult truths or unjust realities.
In practice
In a speech about social justice, one might use this quote to inspire action.
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.
Peace is a rare gift. Peace of mind, peaceful sleeps, and peaceful spirits are all luxuries that few rebels can ever afford.
Have we the means of resisting disciplined armies, when our only defense, the militia, is put in the hands of Congress? Of what service would militia be to you when, most probably, you will not have a single musket in the state? For, as arms are to be provided by Congress, they may or may not provide them.
What's important is that, when you're tested, you stand firm against the violent activities of those who would try to plunge our people back into the misery of the past.
I think that little by little I'll be able to solve my problems and survive.
I hope you either take up parachute jumping or stay out of single motored airplanes at night.
I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more, is none
The characteristic of genuine heroism is its persistency. All men have wandering impulses, fits and starts of generosity. But when you have resolved to be great, abide by yourself, and do not weakly try to reconcile yourself with the world. The heroic cannot be the common, nor the common the heroic.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.