--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Saying 'black lives matter' both…" description: "\"Saying 'black lives matter' both literally and figuratively restores people's dignity.\" — Alicia Garza" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/alicia-garza-8065_black_saying-black-lives-matter-both-literally_3092931.jpg" --- # Saying 'black lives matter' both literally and… ![“Saying 'black lives matter' both literally and figuratively restores people's dignity.” quote by Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/alicia-garza-8065_black_saying-black-lives-matter-both-literally_3092931.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/alicia-garza-8065_black_saying-black-lives-matter-both-literally_3092931.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/alicia-garza-8065_black_saying-black-lives-matter-both-literally_3092931.jpg) > “Saying 'black lives matter' both literally and figuratively restores people's dignity.” [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Affirming Black lives both literally and metaphorically restores dignity and counters dehumanization. **In simple terms:** Affirming Black lives restores dignity. Key Takeaway Uphold dignity through inclusive language. Themes equality human rights social justice Mood hopeful empowering Type inspirational activist When to use this quote - protests - community building - policy advocacy Key Concepts identity dignity activism Questions to Reflect On - How can we move from words to systemic change? - What actions reinforce the message? A Different Perspective Symbolic statements may be seen as performative without action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black lives matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-lives-matter/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Figuratively Restores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figuratively-restores-5326474/) [Lives Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-matter/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-dignity-299636/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Restores People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restores-people-5326475/) [Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/) ## Related quotes > [Black Lives Matter is not just concerned with what happens in policing. The disregard, the disrespect, and the lack of dignity for black life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/black-lives-matter-is-not-just-concerned-with-what-happens-in/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [We want to see a world where black lives matter in order for us to get to a world where all of our humanity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/we-want-to-see-a-world-where-black-lives-matter-in-order-for-us-to/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [Black Lives Matter was created as a response to state violence and anti-black racism and a call to action for those who want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/black-lives-matter-was-created-as-a-response-to-state-violence-and/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [For me, it's clear Beyonce sees herself as a part of the movement for black lives and believes that black lives matter - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/for-me-it-s-clear-beyonce-sees-herself-as-a-part-of-the-movement-for/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [We are clear that all lives matter, but we live in a world where that's not actually happening in practice. So if we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/we-are-clear-that-all-lives-matter-but-we-live-in-a-world-where-that/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [Black Lives Matter, as a network, will not, does not, has not, ain't going to endorse any candidates. Now if there are activists within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/black-lives-matter-as-a-network-will-not-does-not-has-not-ain-t-going/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [What we've seen is an attempt by mainstream politics and politicians to co-opt movements that galvanize people in order for them to move closer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/what-we-ve-seen-is-an-attempt-by-mainstream-politics-and-politicians/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [We've said from the very beginning Black Lives Matter is a network and also, as a broad set of individuals, is an organization moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/we-ve-said-from-the-very-beginning-black-lives-matter-is-a-network/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [We need the best and the brightest thinkers, strategists, coders, surveillance experts, tech geeks, and disruptors to utilize all of the tools we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/we-need-the-best-and-the-brightest-thinkers-strategists-coders/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [We can make black lives matter in the labor movement by building the kinds of movements that black women need to shape a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/we-can-make-black-lives-matter-in-the-labor-movement-by-building-the/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [Black Lives Matter started from a post that I put on Facebook after the acquittal of George Zimmerman. I woke up in the middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/black-lives-matter-started-from-a-post-that-i-put-on-facebook-after/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [A people must have dignity and identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-goodman/a-people-must-have-dignity-and-identity/) [Andrew Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-goodman/) > [It is terrifying to see how easily, in certain people, all dignity collapses. Yet when you think about it, this is quite normal since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/it-is-terrifying-to-see-how-easily-in-certain-people-all-dignity/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I do believe 100 percent that Black lives matter and that the cause to achieve and pursue equality supersedes basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-burke/i-do-believe-100-percent-that-black-lives-matter-and-that-the-cause/) [Doris Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-burke/) > [It's about being fair. It's about Black Lives Matter. Yes, they matter. Everybody counts or nobody counts, and I think if more cops had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/it-s-about-being-fair-it-s-about-black-lives-matter-yes-they-matter/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) ## More by Alicia Garza > [What is it going to take to dismantle the systems that keep me from being able to live well and that keep me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/what-is-it-going-to-take-to-dismantle-the-systems-that-keep-me-from/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [Black Lives Matter started from a post that I put on Facebook after the acquittal of George Zimmerman. I woke up in the middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/black-lives-matter-started-from-a-post-that-i-put-on-facebook-after/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [Police violence is the tip of the iceberg when it relates to the conditions overall of black people across the globe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/police-violence-is-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-when-it-relates-to-the/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [Certainly, we have to make sure our police forces do not have weapons of mass destruction with which they can terrorize our communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/certainly-we-have-to-make-sure-our-police-forces-do-not-have-weapons/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [People think that we're engaged with identity politics. The truth is that we're doing what the labor movement has always done - organizing people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/people-think-that-we-re-engaged-with-identity-politics-the-truth-is/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [The history of black women in the economy is rooted in the legacy of slavery. Enslaved black women were forced to provide care work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/the-history-of-black-women-in-the-economy-is-rooted-in-the-legacy-of/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [I think that there is an element where leadership is lonely, but I also believe that it doesn't have to be like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/i-think-that-there-is-an-element-where-leadership-is-lonely-but-i/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [The night that George Zimmerman was acquitted, I think, for black people all over the world, there was a collective feeling of incredible grief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/the-night-that-george-zimmerman-was-acquitted-i-think-for-black/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [We need to make sure we're creating spaces to create new leaders and new types of leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/we-need-to-make-sure-we-re-creating-spaces-to-create-new-leaders-and/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [I have a lot of respect for President Obama, and while I deeply disagree with some of his actions or lack of action on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/i-have-a-lot-of-respect-for-president-obama-and-while-i-deeply/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > ['Socialism' became this weird household word partially because right-wingers call Obama a socialist, which he is the farthest from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/socialism-became-this-weird-household-word-partially-because-right/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [I'll be honest with you: I think that it's really difficult, this framing around 'good cops' and 'bad cops.' Policing, as a system, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/i-ll-be-honest-with-you-i-think-that-it-s-really-difficult-this/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [Every successful social movement in this country's history has used disruption as a strategy to fight for social change. Whether it was the Boston…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/every-successful-social-movement-in-this-country-s-history-has-used/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [The reason that I started the Black Futures Lab is because I have some clarity about what I think needs to happen in relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/the-reason-that-i-started-the-black-futures-lab-is-because-i-have/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [The reality is that race in the United States operates on a spectrum from black to white. Doesn't mean that people who are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/the-reality-is-that-race-in-the-united-states-operates-on-a-spectrum/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) [Explore all 84 Alicia Garza quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) ## More Black quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) [Frank B. 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I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. 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