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
The U. S. is becoming more hostile to Black people and other people of color. Racism is running rampant and xenophobia is on the rise
Interpretation
The quote highlights the escalating hostility and discrimination faced by Black individuals and people of color in the U.S.
Assata Shakur's quote addresses the increasing levels of racism and xenophobia in American society, emphasizing a troubling trend of hostility towards marginalized communities. This statement serves as a warning about the consequences of systemic racism, calling for awareness and action in the face of growing intolerance and discrimination.
In practice
During a speech about civil rights, this quote can emphasize the ongoing struggles against racism.
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.
With him, life was routine; without him, life was unbearable.
There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.
You can't be angry with me, because I am a hundred times more severely punished than you, if only by the fact that I shall never see you again.
We all have our prejudices, and we may or may not be aware of them. Sometimes people walk by me and give me a wider berth. It happens. I wear hoodies all the time because my head gets cold. Something innocuous can be misunderstood.
I think sometimes what people miss about black people is that we're complicated, that we are indeed messy, that we do our best with what we've been given. We come into the world exactly like you. It's just that there are circumstances in the culture that are dictated and put on our lives that we have to fight against.
I get a little heated when I talk about the past. But I wanted to be clear - I'm not mad at anybody - not anymore.
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