---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: During my stay here in your city…"
description: "\"“During my stay here in your city [Chicago] I have been visited by several groups of your people—all of whom have recited the story of the wrongs and i..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/anonymous-1_1894_during-my-stay-here-in-your-city-chicago_2479258.jpg"
---

#  During my stay here in your city \[Chicago\] I have been…

![“During my stay here in your city &#91;Chicago&#93; I have been visited by several groups of your people—all of whom have recited the story of the wrongs and injustices heaped upon the race; all of them appealing to me to denounce these outrages to the world. I have asked each delegation 'What are you…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/anonymous-1_1894_during-my-stay-here-in-your-city-chicago_2479258.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/anonymous-1_1894_during-my-stay-here-in-your-city-chicago_2479258.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/anonymous-1_1894_during-my-stay-here-in-your-city-chicago_2479258.jpg)

> ““During my stay here in your city \[Chicago\] I have been visited by several groups of your people—all of whom have recited the story of the wrongs and injustices heaped upon the race; all of them appealing to me to denounce these outrages to the world. I have asked each delegation 'What are you doing to help yourselves?' Each group gave the same answer, namely, that they are so divided in church, lodges, etc., that they have not united their forces to fight the common enemy. At last I got mad, and said, 'You people have not been lynched enough! You haven't been lynched enough to drive you together! You say you are only ten millions in this country, with ten times that number against you—all of whom you say are solidly united by race prejudice against your progress. All of you by your own confession stand as individual units striving against a united band to fight or hold your own. Any ten-year-old child knows that a dozen persons fighting as one can make better headway against ten times its number than if each were fighting singlehanded and alone.' What you need in each community is a solid organization to fight race prejudice wherever shown. That organization should be governed by a council of your best men and women. All matters affecting your race welfare should be passed on by that council and loyally obeyed and supported by all members of your race. Until you do that much, it is useless to appeal to others to do for you what you can best do for yourselves.””

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker argues that fragmented community efforts weaken resistance to oppression; unity under strong leadership is essential for effective action.

**In simple terms:** Unity and strong leadership are needed to fight oppression.

Key Takeaway

Organize and unite for collective strength.

Themes

unity leadership social justice community organization activism

Mood

determined urgent

Type

political activist

When to use this quote

- civil rights meetings
- community organizing
- political rallies
- grassroots campaigns

Key Concepts

collective action social movements political strategy

Questions to Reflect On

- What structures ensure leadership remains accountable?
- How can diverse groups maintain unity without losing identity?

A Different Perspective

Risk of authoritarian control if leadership is unchecked.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Common enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-enemy/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Lynching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lynching/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Race in america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race-in-america/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Solidarity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solidarity/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [“I used to ask myself, ‘Sergei, would you rather spend your money on drink or women?’ and thanks to the club, I spend it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melika-dannese-lux/i-used-to-ask-myself-sergei-would-you-rather-spend-your-money-on/)

[Melika Dannese Lux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melika-dannese-lux/)

> [It is, the most beautiful truth in morals that we have no such thing as a distinct or divided interest from our race. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/it-is-the-most-beautiful-truth-in-morals-that-we-have-no-such-thing/)

[Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/)

> [“Haiti as an independent republic accepted the invitation extended to her along with other nations, and erected a building on the World's Fair grounds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells-barnett/haiti-as-an-independent-republic-accepted-the-invitation-extended-to/)

[Ida B. Wells-Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells-barnett/)

> [“Between 1882 and 1968, more black people were lynched in MIssissippi than in any other state.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/between-1882-and-1968-more-black-people-were-lynched-in-mississippi-2/)

[Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/)

> [These Negroes who go for integration and intermarriage are linking up with the very people who lynched their fathers, raped their mothers, and put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/these-negroes-who-go-for-integration-and-intermarriage-are-linking-up/)

[Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/)

## More by Anonymous

> [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More 1894 quotes

> [“I used to ask myself, ‘Sergei, would you rather spend your money on drink or women?’ and thanks to the club, I spend it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melika-dannese-lux/i-used-to-ask-myself-sergei-would-you-rather-spend-your-money-on/)

[Melika Dannese Lux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melika-dannese-lux/)

Browse all 2 1894 quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“During my stay here in your city [Chicago] I have been visited by several groups of your people—all of whom have recited the story of the wrongs and injustices heaped upon the race; all of them appealing to me to denounce these outrages to the world. I have asked each delegation 'What are you doing to help yourselves?' Each group gave the same answer, namely, that they are so divided in church, lodges, etc., that they have not united their forces to fight the common enemy. At last I got mad, and said, 'You people have not been lynched enough! You haven't been lynched enough to drive you together! You say you are only ten millions in this country, with ten times that number against you—all of whom you say are solidly united by race prejudice against your progress. All of you by your own confession stand as individual units striving against a united band to fight or hold your own. Any ten-year-old child knows that a dozen persons fighting as one can make better headway against ten times its number than if each were fighting singlehanded and alone.' What you need in each community is a solid organization to fight race prejudice wherever shown. That organization should be governed by a council of your best men and women. All matters affecting your race welfare should be passed on by that council and loyally obeyed and supported by all members of your race. Until you do that much, it is useless to appeal to others to do for you what you can best do for yourselves.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anonymous"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/during-my-stay-here-in-your-city-chicago-i-have-been-visited-by/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "1894"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/during-my-stay-here-in-your-city-chicago-i-have-been-visited-by/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/anonymous-1_1894_during-my-stay-here-in-your-city-chicago_2479258.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/anonymous-1_1894_during-my-stay-here-in-your-city-chicago_2479258.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/anonymous-1_1894_during-my-stay-here-in-your-city-chicago_2479258.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“During my stay here in your city [Chicago] I have been visited by several groups of your people—all of whom…” — Anonymous",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Anonymous",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“During my stay here in your...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/during-my-stay-here-in-your-city-chicago-i-have-been-visited-by/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/during-my-stay-here-in-your-city-chicago-i-have-been-visited-by/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
