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
We need to be weapons of mass construction, weapons of mass love. It's not enough just to change the system. We need to change ourselves.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True change begins within ourselves rather than just altering external systems.
Assata Shakur's quote emphasizes the importance of personal transformation in the pursuit of societal change. It suggests that to truly effect change in the world, individuals must first look inward and cultivate qualities of love and creativity, rather than simply attempting to modify existing structures or systems. The call to be 'weapons of mass construction' highlights the need for constructive action driven by love, rather than destruction or mere criticism of the status quo.
Themes
ChangeLoveTransformationConstructionSelf-Improvement
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about social justice, one could use this quote to inspire personal accountability.
More from Assata Shakur
All quotes βPart 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.
Assata ShakurRead
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
Assata ShakurRead
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.
Assata ShakurRead
Peace is a rare gift. Peace of mind, peaceful sleeps, and peaceful spirits are all luxuries that few rebels can ever afford.
Assata ShakurRead
Similar quotes
Perhaps one day, all these conflicts will end, and it won't be because of great statesmen or churches or organisations like this one. It'll be because people have changed. They'll be like you, Puffin. More a mixture. So why not become a mongrel? It's healthy.
Kazuo IshiguroRead
If you want change, you have to make it. If we want progress we have to drive it.
Susan RiceRead
When you stop doing something, it doesn't mean you are rejecting the previous work. That's the mistake; it's not rejecting it, it's saying, 'I have exploited it enough now and I wish to take a look at another corner.'
David HockneyRead
You'd think that in this age, especially in the 21st century - especially with all the technology and all the discoveries that we've made - that we would figure out how to tackle abuse.
Tori AmosRead
Revolution is the most dramatic appearance of a conscious people.
Walter RodneyRead
Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof.
John Kenneth GalbraithRead