I'd much rather people knew me as a good tennis player than as an aboriginal who happens to play good tennis. Of course I'm proud of my race, but I don't want to be thinking about it all the time.
Evonne Goolagong CawleyRead
I would rather be a member of this [Afrikan] race than a Greek in the time of Alexander, a Roman in the Augustan period, or Anglo-Saxon in the nineteenth century.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker values their own race and culture above historical privileges associated with other cultures.
Edward Wilmot Blyden emphasizes the importance of racial and cultural identity by expressing a profound pride in being part of the Afrikan race. He suggests that even if other races experienced periods of significant historical privilege and influence, he would still choose the deeper connection and significance of his own heritage.
Themes
IdentityHeritagePrideCultureRace
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech celebrating multiculturalism and diversity, this quote can be used to underscore the importance of cultural pride.
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