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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 Shakur
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes the importance of embracing one's natural identity rather than conforming to societal standards.

Assata Shakur's quote highlights how individuals often feel pressured to alter their appearance to fit into societal norms that reflect another culture's standard of beauty. It serves as a critique of the ways in which people modify their natural selves, suggesting that such actions are a conscious choice that speaks volumes about their identity and cultural self-acceptance.

Themes

IdentitySelf-AcceptanceBeauty StandardsCultural IdentityIndividuality

In practice

Example use cases

In a seminar about cultural identities, this quote can help spark discussions about self-acceptance and beauty standards.

More from Assata Shakur

Part 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.
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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
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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.
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My life wasn't beautiful and creative before I became politically active. My life was totally changed when I began to struggle.
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Peace is a rare gift. Peace of mind, peaceful sleeps, and peaceful spirits are all luxuries that few rebels can ever afford.
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And if I know anything at all, it's that a wall is just a wall and nothing more at all. It can be broken down.
Assata ShakurRead

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