When we say 'Black Lives Matter,' we're not saying that any other life doesn't matter. That has never, ever been our message. Our message has always been from a place of love.
Opal TometiRead
I have two younger brothers, and I know my parents have spoken to them about driving and interacting with police. They didn't have those conversations with me, but they did have conversations about being exceptional black people.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the different experiences and expectations placed on individuals based on their identity and family background.
Opal Tometi highlights the contrasting upbringing she experienced compared to her younger brothers, noting how her parents instilled in her the importance of being an exceptional black individual. This speaks to the societal pressures and conversations around racial identity and the implications of those discussions, particularly in relation to authority figures like the police.
Themes
IdentityFamilyRaceExpectationsPoliceConversations
In practice
Example use cases
During a family gathering, you could use this quote to discuss how parenting and societal expectations can differ among siblings.
More from Opal Tometi
All quotes →Anti-black racism operates at a society-wide level and colludes in a seamless web of policies, practices, and beliefs to oppress and disempower black communities.
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To fully understand the black immigrant experience in the U.S., we must understand it not in contrast to the African-American experience, but central to it.
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The U.S.' refusal to acknowledge the plight of displaced Haitians and maintaining inhumane practices of neglect, disrespect, and violence amounts to a gross violation of human rights.
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