--- title: "10 Ifs Quotes By June Jordan" description: "10 Ifs quotes by June Jordan. Plus more from June Jordan and more Ifs sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65d/june-jordan-5050_free_if-you-are-free-you-are-not-predictable_3179983.png" --- > [If you are free, you are not predictable and you are not controllable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/if-you-are-free-you-are-not-predictable-and-you-are-not-controllable/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65d/june-jordan-5050_free_if-you-are-free-you-are-not-predictable_3179983.png) > [Reproductive choice is not some trendy item to toss or keep around the house. If you cannot get an education or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/reproductive-choice-is-not-some-trendy-item-to-toss-or-keep-around/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/june-jordan-5050_birth-control_reproductive-choice-is-not-some-trendy-i_2049424.png) > [suicide is absolute, and if you think you will survive by hiding who you really are, you are sadly misled: there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/suicide-is-absolute-and-if-you-think-you-will-survive-by-hiding-who/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fad/june-jordan-5050_absolutes_suicide-is-absolute-and-if-you-think-you_676383.png) > [The United States Supreme Court, once a reliable if ultimate recourse for progressive and even revolutionary grievances, has become a retrograde wellspring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/the-united-states-supreme-court-once-a-reliable-if-ultimate-recourse/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/june-jordan-5050_court_the-united-states-supreme-court-once-a-r_159393.png) > [If any of us hopes to survive, she must meet the extremity of the American female condition with immediate and political response.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/if-any-of-us-hopes-to-survive-she-must-meet-the-extremity-of-the/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87e/june-jordan-5050_body_if-any-of-us-hopes-to-survive-she-must-m_1811914.jpg) > [If we lived in a democratic state our language would have to hurtle, fly, curse, and sing, in all the common American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/if-we-lived-in-a-democratic-state-our-language-would-have-to-hurtle/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/june-jordan-5050_common_if-we-lived-in-a-democratic-state-our-la_1940088.png) > [If we even tolerate any oppression of gay and lesbian Americans, if we join those who would intrude upon the choices of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/if-we-even-tolerate-any-oppression-of-gay-and-lesbian-americans-if-we/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b6/june-jordan-5050_choices_if-we-even-tolerate-any-oppression-of-ga_3053834.png) > [... if your heart and your honest body can be controlled by the state, or controlled by community taboo, are you not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/if-your-heart-and-your-honest-body-can-be-controlled-by-the-state-or/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/june-jordan-5050_body_if-your-heart-and-your-honest-body-can-b_426176.png) > [Lately... Americans have begun to understand that trouble does not start somewhere on the other side of town. It seems to originate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/lately-americans-have-begun-to-understand-that-trouble-does-not-start/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/june-jordan-5050_absolutes_lately-americans-have-begun-to-understan_1829883.png) > [South Africa used to seem so far away. Then it came home to me. It began to signify the meaning of white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/south-africa-used-to-seem-so-far-away-then-it-came-home-to-me-it/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/june-jordan-5050_against-war_south-africa-used-to-seem-so-far-away-th_364109.png) ## Other authors on Ifs ## More by June Jordan > [But, based on my friendship with Evie as young mothers, I started going on freedom rides in 1966.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/but-based-on-my-friendship-with-evie-as-young-mothers-i-started-going/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [I am working never to be late again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/i-am-working-never-to-be-late-again/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [To tell the truth is to become beautiful, to begin to love yourself, value yourself. And that's political, in its most profound way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/to-tell-the-truth-is-to-become-beautiful-to-begin-to-love-yourself/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [In America, you can segregate the people, but the problems will travel. From slavery to equal rights, from state suppression of dissent to crime,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/in-america-you-can-segregate-the-people-but-the-problems-will-travel/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [We survive our love because we go on loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/we-survive-our-love-because-we-go-on-loving/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [Americans have begun to understand that trouble does not start somewhere on the other side of town. It seems to originate inside the absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/americans-have-begun-to-understand-that-trouble-does-not-start/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [The United States Supreme Court, once a reliable if ultimate recourse for progressive and even revolutionary grievances, has become a retrograde wellspring for enormous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/the-united-states-supreme-court-once-a-reliable-if-ultimate-recourse/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [My father was very intense, passionate and over-the-top. He was my hero and my tyrant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/my-father-was-very-intense-passionate-and-over-the-top-he-was-my-hero/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [The purpose of polite behavior is never virtuous. Deceit, surrender, and concealment these are not virtues. The goal of the mannerly is comfort, per…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/the-purpose-of-polite-behavior-is-never-virtuous-deceit-surrender-and/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [“the motivation behind every sentence is the wish to say something real to somebody real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/the-motivation-behind-every-sentence-is-the-wish-to-say-something/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [Bisexuality means I am free and I am as likely to want to love a woman as I am likely to want to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/bisexuality-means-i-am-free-and-i-am-as-likely-to-want-to-love-a/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [“...love without being destroyed...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/love-without-being-destroyed/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [Body and soul, Black America reveals the extreme questions of contemporary life, questions of freedom and identity: How can I be who I am?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/body-and-soul-black-america-reveals-the-extreme-questions-of/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [South Africa used to seem so far away. Then it came home to me. It began to signify the meaning of white hatred here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/south-africa-used-to-seem-so-far-away-then-it-came-home-to-me-it/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [The thing about genius is it will never yield to circumstances. Genius regards what's given as the beginning of its need to find or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/the-thing-about-genius-is-it-will-never-yield-to-circumstances-genius/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/june-jordan/#itemlist", "name": "10 Ifs Quotes By June Jordan", "numberOfItems": 10, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you are free, you are not predictable and you are not controllable.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "June Jordan" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/if-you-are-free-you-are-not-predictable-and-you-are-not-controllable/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65d/june-jordan-5050_free_if-you-are-free-you-are-not-predictable_3179983.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65d/june-jordan-5050_free_if-you-are-free-you-are-not-predictable_3179983.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65d/june-jordan-5050_free_if-you-are-free-you-are-not-predictable_3179983.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you are free, you are not predictable and you are not controllable.” — June Jordan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Reproductive choice is not some trendy item to toss or keep around the house. 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What tyranny could exceed a tyranny that dictates to the human heart, and that attempts to dictate the public career of an honest human body?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "June Jordan" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/if-your-heart-and-your-honest-body-can-be-controlled-by-the-state-or/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/june-jordan-5050_body_if-your-heart-and-your-honest-body-can-b_426176.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/june-jordan-5050_body_if-your-heart-and-your-honest-body-can-b_426176.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/june-jordan-5050_body_if-your-heart-and-your-honest-body-can-b_426176.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“... if your heart and your honest body can be controlled by the state, or controlled by community taboo, are…” — June Jordan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Lately... Americans have begun to understand that trouble does not start somewhere on the other side of town. It seems to originate inside the absolute middle of the homemade cherry pie. In our history, the state has failed to respond to the weak. You could be white, male, Presbyterian and heterosexual besides, but if you get fired or if you get sick tomorrow, you might as well be Black, for all the state will want to hear from you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "June Jordan" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/lately-americans-have-begun-to-understand-that-trouble-does-not-start/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/june-jordan-5050_absolutes_lately-americans-have-begun-to-understan_1829883.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/june-jordan-5050_absolutes_lately-americans-have-begun-to-understan_1829883.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/june-jordan-5050_absolutes_lately-americans-have-begun-to-understan_1829883.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Lately... Americans have begun to understand that trouble does not start somewhere on the other side of…” — June Jordan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "South Africa used to seem so far away. Then it came home to me. It began to signify the meaning of white hatred here. That was what the sheets and the suits and the ties covered up, not very well. That was what the cowardly guys calling me names from their speeding truck wanted to happen to me, to all of me: to my people. That was what would happen to me if I walked around the corner into the wrong neighborhood. That was Birmingham. That was Brooklyn. That was Reagan. That was the end of reason. South Africa was how I came to understand that I am not against war; I am against losing the war.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "June Jordan" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/south-africa-used-to-seem-so-far-away-then-it-came-home-to-me-it/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/june-jordan-5050_against-war_south-africa-used-to-seem-so-far-away-th_364109.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/june-jordan-5050_against-war_south-africa-used-to-seem-so-far-away-th_364109.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16c/june-jordan-5050_against-war_south-africa-used-to-seem-so-far-away-th_364109.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“South Africa used to seem so far away. Then it came home to me. It began to signify the meaning of white…” — June Jordan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "CollectionPage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/june-jordan/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/june-jordan/", "name": "Ifs Quotes by June Jordan", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/june-jordan/#itemlist" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65d/june-jordan-5050_free_if-you-are-free-you-are-not-predictable_3179983.png" }, "description": "10 Ifs quotes by June Jordan. 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