There are times in life when, instead of complaining, you do something about your complaints.
Rita DoveRead
As an African-American, as a woman, I think that I've been sensitized to the way in which history privileges the white male and the way in which certain aspects of history, the things that we are taught in school, the things that are handed down, never, never entered the picture though they might have been very important.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the historical neglect of diverse perspectives, particularly those of African-Americans and women, in the narrative taught in schools.
Rita Dove highlights the disparities in historical narratives, pointing out that the conventional curriculum often overlooks the contributions and experiences of marginalized groups, specifically African-Americans and women. By acknowledging her own sensitivity to these issues, she stresses the importance of recognizing and including voices that have been historically privileged or silenced, suggesting that a more comprehensive understanding of history is necessary for an inclusive society.
Themes
HistoryEducationDiversityMarginalizationPerspectives
In practice
Example use cases
A teacher might use this quote during a lesson about American history to highlight the importance of including diverse voices in the curriculum.
More from Rita Dove
All quotes →Without imagination we can go nowhere. And imagination is not restricted to the arts. Every scientist I have met who has been a success has had to imagine.
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If our children are unable to voice what they mean, no one will know how they feel. If they can’t imagine a different world, they are stumbling through a darkness made all the more sinister by its lack of reference points. For a young person growing up in America’s alienated neighborhoods, there can be no greater empowerment than to dare to speak from the heart — and then to discover that one is not alone in ones feelings.
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All of us have moments in our childhood where we come alive for the first time. And we go back to those moments and think, This is when I became myself.
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Being Poet Laureate made me realize I was capable of a larger voice. There is a more public utterance I can make as a poet.
Rita DoveRead
Don't be so fast, you're all you've got.
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