--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My mother was very strong. Once, she…" description: "\"My mother was very strong. Once, she picked up a coconut and smashed it against my father's head. It taught me about women defending themselves and not..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/alice-walker-347_coconut_my-mother-was-very-strong-once-she-picke_52297.jpg" --- # My mother was very strong. Once, she picked up a coconut… ![“My mother was very strong. Once, she picked up a coconut and smashed it against my father's head. It taught me about women defending themselves and not collapsing in a heap.” quote by Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/alice-walker-347_coconut_my-mother-was-very-strong-once-she-picke_52297.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/alice-walker-347_coconut_my-mother-was-very-strong-once-she-picke_52297.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef4/alice-walker-347_coconut_my-mother-was-very-strong-once-she-picke_52297.jpg) > “My mother was very strong. Once, she picked up a coconut and smashed it against my father's head. It taught me about women defending themselves and not collapsing in a heap.” [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A vivid anecdote illustrating a woman's capacity for decisive, protective action, challenging stereotypes of passive femininity. **In simple terms:** Women can be forceful protectors. Key Takeaway Strength isn’t gendered. Themes gender roles empowerment family dynamics violence resilience Mood defiant reflective Type personal anecdote cultural critique When to use this quote - domestic conflict - self‑defense training - storytelling about mothers Key Concepts defense agency stereotype subversion Practical Applications - motivational speaking - gender studies curricula Questions to Reflect On - How does this story reshape your view of female strength? - What cultural narratives limit our perception of women's agency? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coconut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coconut/) [Coconut Smashed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coconut-smashed-739941/) [Coconuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coconuts/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/head/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-strong-245668/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Picked Coconut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picked-coconut-739940/) [She](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/she/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Very strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-strong/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [I'm at a slightly higher risk for type 2 diabetes, and my grandmother had diabetes. My hemoglobin a1c, which is one of the measures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-wojcicki/i-m-at-a-slightly-higher-risk-for-type-2-diabetes-and-my-grandmother/) [Anne Wojcicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-wojcicki/) > [If you take 12 waters from the coconut - not the ones you buy in the store, although that's good - but the fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gregory/if-you-take-12-waters-from-the-coconut-not-the-ones-you-buy-in-the/) [Dick Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gregory/) > [A plant-based diet has actually simplified my life in so many ways. For breakfast, I try to get my first serving of fruits and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-forbes/a-plant-based-diet-has-actually-simplified-my-life-in-so-many-ways/) [Michelle Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-forbes/) > [I was sometimes called 'coconut' when I was at school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/i-was-sometimes-called-coconut-when-i-was-at-school/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [Coconut oil is the healthiest oil on earth,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-fife/coconut-oil-is-the-healthiest-oil-on-earth/) [Bruce Fife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-fife/) > [Coconut milk is the only thing on this planet that comes identically to mother's milk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gregory/coconut-milk-is-the-only-thing-on-this-planet-that-comes-identically/) [Dick Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gregory/) > [For people may not know what they think about politics in the Balkans, or the vexed question of men and women, but everyone has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-simpson/for-people-may-not-know-what-they-think-about-politics-in-the-balkans/) [Louis Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-simpson/) > [“GOING COCONUTS FOR BUKO PIE Throughout the regions around Tagaytay and San Pablo, you’ll see roadside stands selling buko pie, a local delicacy. Sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonely-planet/going-coconuts-for-buko-pie-throughout-the-regions-around-tagaytay/) [Lonely Planet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonely-planet/) > [I love KIND bars. My favorites are coconut and almond and the dark chocolate and sea salt because staying fueled helps keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-sanders/i-love-kind-bars-my-favorites-are-coconut-and-almond-and-the-dark/) [Summer Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-sanders/) > [For I am coconut / and the heart of me / is sweeter / than you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-grimes/for-i-am-coconut-and-the-heart-of-me-is-sweeter-than-you-know/) [Nikki Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-grimes/) > [I enjoy using coconut oil - not only for my skin and hair, but I'll digest it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-ari-parker/i-enjoy-using-coconut-oil-not-only-for-my-skin-and-hair-but-i-ll/) [Nicole Ari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-ari-parker/) > [“Erosion control coconut matting using derived products from coconut; Coir geotextiles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-mm/erosion-control-coconut-matting-using-derived-products-from-coconut/) [Mr. MM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-mm/) > [“For all my rational Western intellect and education, I was for the moment overwhelmed by a primitive sense of living in a world ordered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/for-all-my-rational-western-intellect-and-education-i-was-for-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [I drink coconut water before my workouts. It has just the right amount of calories and electrolytes to get me going. My body has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-morrison/i-drink-coconut-water-before-my-workouts-it-has-just-the-right-amount/) [Jennifer Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-morrison/) > [I'll admit that I do quite like drinks that come in coconut shells. So there's always that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-mckellar/i-ll-admit-that-i-do-quite-like-drinks-that-come-in-coconut-shells-so/) [Danica McKellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-mckellar/) ## More by Alice Walker > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Just be what it is that you are, and that is just fine. You don't have to be what you're not in any way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/just-be-what-it-is-that-you-are-and-that-is-just-fine-you-don-t-have/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“Remember this-- say it & know it is true: Alice loves me Alice loves me and I am not blamed for this. ... she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/remember-this-say-it-know-it-is-true-alice-loves-me-alice-loves-me/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“Only the sky above us do we hold in common.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/only-the-sky-above-us-do-we-hold-in-common/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“Why aren't you happy in America, if everyone there drives motorcars?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/why-aren-t-you-happy-in-america-if-everyone-there-drives-motorcars/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“She saw poetry where other writers merely saw failure to cope with English.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/she-saw-poetry-where-other-writers-merely-saw-failure-to-cope-with/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [My mother had handed down respect for the possibilities...and the will to grasp them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/my-mother-had-handed-down-respect-for-the-possibilities-and-the-will/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Helped are those who are content to be themselves; they will never lack mystery in their lives and the joys of self-discovery will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/helped-are-those-who-are-content-to-be-themselves-they-will-never/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“As others might prepare for an exam whose subject matter is unknown to them, so I must study, cram, for every conversation with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/as-others-might-prepare-for-an-exam-whose-subject-matter-is-unknown/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [The original crime of niggers and lesbians is that they prefer themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/the-original-crime-of-niggers-and-lesbians-is-that-they-prefer/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Many readers fail to realize this, but 'The Color Purple' is a theological text. It is about the reclamation of one's original God: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/many-readers-fail-to-realize-this-but-the-color-purple-is-a/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [The good news may be that Nature is phasing out the white man, but the bad news is that's who She thinks we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/the-good-news-may-be-that-nature-is-phasing-out-the-white-man-but-the/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Humans - whatever billions we are - we don't have the control. We are considered expendable, basically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/humans-whatever-billions-we-are-we-don-t-have-the-control-we-are/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my uncles. I had to fight my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/all-my-life-i-had-to-fight-i-had-to-fight-my-daddy-i-had-to-fight-my/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Well, capitalism is a big problem, because with capitalism you're just going to keep buying and selling things until there's nothing else to buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/well-capitalism-is-a-big-problem-because-with-capitalism-you-re-just/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) [Explore all 654 Alice Walker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) ## More Coconut quotes > [It's all about salsa with grain chips, tofu, turkey slices, hummus, and coconut water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurieann-gibson/it-s-all-about-salsa-with-grain-chips-tofu-turkey-slices-hummus-and/) [Laurieann Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurieann-gibson/) > [While most individuals use the flesh of the coconut in their cooking, coconut water and oil are also known to have numerous health benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/while-most-individuals-use-the-flesh-of-the-coconut-in-their-cooking/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [In the evening, I use a cleansing oil - coconut oil also works - to remove makeup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-mock/in-the-evening-i-use-a-cleansing-oil-coconut-oil-also-works-to-remove/) [Janet Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-mock/) > [I'm at a slightly higher risk for type 2 diabetes, and my grandmother had diabetes. My hemoglobin a1c, which is one of the measures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-wojcicki/i-m-at-a-slightly-higher-risk-for-type-2-diabetes-and-my-grandmother/) [Anne Wojcicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-wojcicki/) > [After a shower, I slather my limbs with coconut oil or rose oil and pat dry. I use a dry brush to exfoliate several…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenza-fourati/after-a-shower-i-slather-my-limbs-with-coconut-oil-or-rose-oil-and/) [Kenza Fourati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenza-fourati/) > [I make a Bloody Mary at home with a dash of fish sauce, a little bit of coconut, and some lime juice. It gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maneet-chauhan/i-make-a-bloody-mary-at-home-with-a-dash-of-fish-sauce-a-little-bit/) [Maneet Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maneet-chauhan/) > [Use coconut oil; it is one of the best moisturizers. Use it right after the shower on wet skin and then wipe it off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-shayk/use-coconut-oil-it-is-one-of-the-best-moisturizers-use-it-right-after/) [Irina Shayk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-shayk/) > [My friend thinks he's so smart, he said onions are the only food that make you cry. so I through a coconut at his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-friend-thinks-he-s-so-smart-he-said-onions-are-the-only-food-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I drink coconut water before my workouts. It has just the right amount of calories and electrolytes to get me going. My body has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-morrison/i-drink-coconut-water-before-my-workouts-it-has-just-the-right-amount/) [Jennifer Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-morrison/) > [“For all my rational Western intellect and education, I was for the moment overwhelmed by a primitive sense of living in a world ordered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/for-all-my-rational-western-intellect-and-education-i-was-for-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“I've never had a coconut chilli Martini before,' I tell him. 'That's the thing with getting older. You run out of new things to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/i-ve-never-had-a-coconut-chilli-martini-before-i-tell-him-that-s-the/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [“You can speak with a twang and still not say a thang.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/you-can-speak-with-a-twang-and-still-not-say-a-thang/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [My friend said onions were the only food that makes you cry. I proved him wrong by throwing a coconut at his face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/my-friend-said-onions-were-the-only-food-that-makes-you-cry-i-proved/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [The most classic French dessert around the holidays is the Christmas log, with butter cream. Two flavors. Chocolate and coconut. My first job in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-ducasse/the-most-classic-french-dessert-around-the-holidays-is-the-christmas/) [Alain Ducasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-ducasse/) > [Coconut is one of those love-hate ingredients.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/coconut-is-one-of-those-love-hate-ingredients/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) [Browse all 115 Coconut quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coconut/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My mother was very strong. Once, she picked up a coconut and smashed it against my father's head. 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