Hold your head high, stick your chest out. You can make it. It gets dark sometimes, but morning comes. Keep hope alive.
Jesse JacksonRead
Most blacks will argue that they excel because of hard work, because of intellect, determination, sweat, blood, tears and risk.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the value of hard work and resilience in achieving success.
Jesse Jackson's quote highlights the belief among many black individuals that their accomplishments are the result of hard work and perseverance rather than luck or entitlement. It speaks to the struggles and sacrifices they have made, encompassing emotional and physical efforts, to overcome barriers and achieve their goals.
In practice
Use this quote to motivate students during a graduation speech.
Hold your head high, stick your chest out. You can make it. It gets dark sometimes, but morning comes. Keep hope alive.
His foreparents came to America in immigrant ships. My foreparents came to America in slave ships. But whatever the original ships, we are both in the same boat tonight.
Leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pain, and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving.
Look at the coded language the Right is using against President Barack Obama. Openly calling him a liar in Congress, saying he is 'not a Christian, he was not born here, he is not one of us.' That makes addressing such issues trickier for the first African-American in the White House.
Many are observing Ferguson and witnessing the anger, demonstrations, looting and vandalism and calling for quiet. But quiet isn't enough. The absence of noise isn't the presence of justice - and we must demand justice in Ferguson and the other 'Fergusons' around America.
I am - Somebody. I may be poor, but I am - Somebody! I may be on welfare, but I am - Somebody! I may be uneducated, but I am - Somebody! I must be, I'm God's child. I must be respected and protected. I am black and I am beautiful! I am - Somebody! Soul Power!
I don't remember as a kid wanting to do or be anything else but drive something, be a race driver.
My whole life, people have doubted me. My mom did. People told me in high school I'm too short and not fast enough to play basketball. They didn't know my story. Because if they did, they'd know that anything is possible.
When I was growing up, I was told you could be anything you want to be, but I didn't really believe that because you couldn't be president. Like, I knew that; we never had a black president.
I knew I could do it all this time,β said Harry, βBecause I'd already done it... does that make sense?
...one cannot but wonder how an environment can make people despair and sit idle and then, by changing the conditions, one can transform the same people into matchless performers.
You can not operate in this room unless you believe that you are Superman, and whatever happens, you're capable of solving the problem.
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