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 usual way the people are taught to think in amerika is that each subject is in a little compartment and has no relation to any other subject. For the most part, we receive fragments of unrelated knowledge, and our education follows no logical format or pattern. It is exactly this kind of education that produces people who don’t have the ability to think for themselves and who are easily manipulated.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote criticizes the compartmentalized approach to education that hinders critical thinking.
Assata Shakur argues that the traditional educational system in America teaches students to view subjects as isolated compartments rather than interconnected disciplines. This method results in fragmented knowledge and prevents individuals from developing their own critical thinking skills, making them more susceptible to manipulation by others.
Themes
EducationCritical ThinkingManipulationKnowledgeLearning
In practice
Example use cases
In a seminar on educational reform, this quote can highlight the need for systemic change in teaching methods.
More from Assata Shakur
All quotes →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.
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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
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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.
Assata ShakurRead
My life wasn't beautiful and creative before I became politically active. My life was totally changed when I began to struggle.
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Peace is a rare gift. Peace of mind, peaceful sleeps, and peaceful spirits are all luxuries that few rebels can ever afford.
Assata ShakurRead
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