The March on Washington was a March for Jobs and Freedom. There are still too many people who are unemployed or underemployed in America - they're black, white, Latino, Native American and Asian American.
John LewisRead
If it hadn't been for that march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday, there would be no Barack Obama as President of the United States of America.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the impact of historical events on the present and future, particularly in relation to civil rights.
John Lewis highlights how significant moments in history, like the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge during the civil rights movement, paved the way for future leaders, such as Barack Obama. This quote serves as a reminder of the importance of activism and the struggles faced in the fight for equality, suggesting that these efforts shape the course of history and influence future generations.
Themes
Civil RightsActivismHistoryLeadershipLegacy
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a speech about the importance of civil rights movements in shaping modern society.
More from John Lewis
All quotes →The scars and stains of racism are still deeply embedded in the American society.
John LewisRead
Customs, traditions, laws should be flexible, within good reason, if that is what it takes to make our democracy work.
John LewisRead
I say to people today, 'You must be prepared if you believe in something. If you believe in something, you have to go for it. As individuals, we may not live to see the end.'
John LewisRead
We need someone who is going to stand up, speak up, and speak out for the people who need help, for the people who have been discriminated against.
John LewisRead
Sometimes I hear people saying, 'Nothing has changed.' Come and walk in my shoes.
John LewisRead
Similar quotes
Because it is such a huge crisis, because it puts us on a firm science-based deadline, it's a once-in-a-century opportunity to build a better society and address raging inequality, create huge numbers of jobs, rebuild our public infrastructure. But, we can't do it unless we break every single rule in the free-market playbook. Which is why the worst people in the world all deny climate change.
Naomi KleinRead
We think we can't become a minimalist until our lives have settled down. But it's actually the other way around; we won't be able to settle down until we're living a minimalist life.
Fumio SasakiRead
No matter what's happening in your life, you can change the trajectory of events by closing your eyes, reviewing your thought and behavior, and sending love wherever you've been withholding it.
Marianne WilliamsonRead
Short of nuclear war itself, population growth is the gravest issue the world faces. If we do not act, the problem will be solved by famine, riots, insurrection and war.
Robert McnamaraRead
Racism cannot be cured solely by attacking some of the results it produces, like discrimination in housing or in education.
Sargent ShriverRead
There’s this idea that somehow you’ve got to keep changing things, and as often as possible. Maybe if people just decided not to buy anything for a while, they’d get a chance to think about what they wanted; what they really liked.
Vivienne WestwoodRead