In her second career as a minister, my mother defied a legacy of chauvinism to become a leader of our community, overseeing a church that served as a hub, offering parenting classes, a food pantry, after-school programming, and - in the wake of Hurricane Katrina - a lifeline to those ravaged by loss.
Interpretation
The quote highlights a woman's determination to lead and serve her community despite societal challenges.
Stacey Abrams reflects on her mother's journey as a minister who challenged patriarchal norms to become a community leader. Through her church, she provided vital services such as parenting classes and disaster relief, illustrating the powerful impact of leadership in uplifting others, especially in times of crisis.
In practice
In a speech addressing community volunteers, one might quote this to emphasize the importance of service.
I grew up one of six children with working-class parents in the Deep South. My mother was a college librarian, and my father worked in a shipyard. I never saw them balance a checkbook, but they kept a roof over our heads and got all six of us into college.
I do not Google myself, I do not read comments, and I barely look myself in the eye when I look in the mirror.
My being a black woman is not a deficit. It is a strength. Because I could not be where I am had I not overcome so many other barriers. Which means you know I'm relentless, you know I'm persistent, and you know I'm smart.
The basis for sustainable progress is legal protections grounded in an awareness of how identity has been used to deny opportunity.
I like to solve problems. I know it is a skill set, but it's also an obligation. I grew up with parents who believe that you don't simply complain: you try to find solutions and fix what's in front of you.
Here in Georgia, we continue to grapple with our own vestiges of hate. The image carved into Stone Mountain, like Confederate monuments across this state, stand as constant reminders of racism, intolerance, and division.
I don't want people to think you have to look a certain way or be a certain mold to be able to be a quarterback.
I must have assistants who will solve their own problems and tell me later what they've done.
The challenge we now face is to build on the record of the past, to continue accepting new responsibilities and seeking new opportunities to serve.
Hire people smarter than you are and encourage them to bloom.
There is no contest between the company that buys the grudging compliance of its work force and the company that enjoys the enterprising participation of its employees
We create a standard for how we want to do things, and everybody's got to buy into that standard or you really can't have any team chemistry.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.