Slavery is nothing to joke about. The history of this nation's involvement with slavery is nothing to pass off in a joke.
Douglas WilderRead
There will be those who will tell you that you can't make it because of how you look, because of the way you talk. We all have heard that - I almost listened.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Don't let others' opinions about your appearance or speech deter you from achieving your goals.
This quote emphasizes the negativity that can stem from external judgments based on superficial characteristics like looks or speech. Douglas Wilder shares a profound reminder that while we may face criticism or doubt from others, it is crucial to remain resilient and not let these distractions deter us from our aspirations and self-worth.
Themes
JudgmentPerseveranceSelf-EsteemResilienceAppearance
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech to high school students, I used this quote to encourage them to stay true to themselves despite peer pressure.
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