--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had grown up at a time when people were…" description: "\"I had grown up at a time when people were being lynched, being attacked with water hoses. Becoming active and learning a different way of viewing my li..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/assata-shakur-2554_active_i-had-grown-up-at-a-time-when-people-wer_2777058.png" --- # I had grown up at a time when people were being lynched… ![“I had grown up at a time when people were being lynched, being attacked with water hoses. Becoming active and learning a different way of viewing my life was a healthy reaction to what I was seeing every day.” quote by Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/assata-shakur-2554_active_i-had-grown-up-at-a-time-when-people-wer_2777058.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/assata-shakur-2554_active_i-had-grown-up-at-a-time-when-people-wer_2777058.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea9/assata-shakur-2554_active_i-had-grown-up-at-a-time-when-people-wer_2777058.png) > “I had grown up at a time when people were being lynched, being attacked with water hoses. Becoming active and learning a different way of viewing my life was a healthy reaction to what I was seeing every day.” [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on growing up amid violence, and how learning alternative perspectives became a healthy coping strategy. **In simple terms:** Learning new views helped cope with daily violence. Key Takeaway Seek alternative perspectives for resilience. Themes resilience social justice personal growth Mood hopeful determined Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - community organizing - education - mental health support Key Concepts trauma response activism Questions to Reflect On - How can communities heal from collective trauma? - What role does education play in transformation? A Different Perspective It may understate the ongoing trauma of such experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [“He wasn't the most graceful swimmer in the world, or the fastest, but he had a lot of anger to burn off and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-easton/he-wasn-t-the-most-graceful-swimmer-in-the-world-or-the-fastest-but/) [Eli Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-easton/) > [I've started viewing life differently. I enjoy a lot more of the little things, and the natural beauty of earth and its workings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-started-viewing-life-differently-i-enjoy-a-lot-more-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you insist that your life just plain sucks, you need to ask yourself what you are overlooking or wasting. Can you see anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-presson/if-you-insist-that-your-life-just-plain-sucks-you-need-to-ask/) [Ramon Presson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-presson/) > [My mother, because of her life, had almost a contradictory way of viewing life. She had this great zest and joy for life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-lansing/my-mother-because-of-her-life-had-almost-a-contradictory-way-of/) [Sherry Lansing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-lansing/) > [Happiness is largely an attitude of mind, of viewing life from the right angle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/happiness-is-largely-an-attitude-of-mind-of-viewing-life-from-the/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [I have grown as time has gone on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dalton/i-have-grown-as-time-has-gone-on/) [Andy Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dalton/) > [My style was not good. It's definitely something that's grown over time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-mcdavid/my-style-was-not-good-it-s-definitely-something-that-s-grown-over-time/) [Connor McDavid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connor-mcdavid/) > [I was pretty much grown-up by the time I attended school in Britain - or as grown-up as I'll ever get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-jon-williams/i-was-pretty-much-grown-up-by-the-time-i-attended-school-in-britain/) [Walter Jon Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-jon-williams/) > [“Things change so quickly. Just when you get used to something, zap! It changes. Just when you begin to understand someone, zap! They grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/things-change-so-quickly-just-when-you-get-used-to-something-zap-it/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [Sometimes all you can say is, I've learned all I can learn from this person and we've grown all we can together, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/sometimes-all-you-can-say-is-i-ve-learned-all-i-can-learn-from-this/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“My generation was weaned on subliminal advertising, stupid television, slasher movies, insipid grocery-store literature, MTV, VCRs, fast food, infomercials, glossy ads, diet aids, plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-hornbacher/my-generation-was-weaned-on-subliminal-advertising-stupid-television/) [Marya Hornbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-hornbacher/) > [“The first difference Newt noticed about being grown up was that time didn't pass as slow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/the-first-difference-newt-noticed-about-being-grown-up-was-that-time/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [She's gone, I'm grown, time to grow a set of ballz and move on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ctate/she-s-gone-i-m-grown-time-to-grow-a-set-of-ballz-and-move-on/) [CTate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ctate/) > [“(Lynched for Wife Beating) In nearly all communities wife beating is punishable with a fine, and in no community is it made a felony.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells-barnett/lynched-for-wife-beating-in-nearly-all-communities-wife-beating-is/) [Ida B. Wells-Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells-barnett/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## More by Assata Shakur > [There is a down side to everything if you don't understand what the consequences of what you are saying in your music you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/there-is-a-down-side-to-everything-if-you-don-t-understand-what-the/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [My energy just couldn’t stop dancing. I was caught up in the music of struggle, and i wanted to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/my-energy-just-couldn-t-stop-dancing-i-was-caught-up-in-the-music-of/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [I am a Black revolutionary woman, and because of this i have been charged with and accused of every alleged crime in which a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/i-am-a-black-revolutionary-woman-and-because-of-this-i-have-been/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [Imperialism is the underlying motor of racism. The underlying reason that racism keeps on being promoted in all of its various forms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/imperialism-is-the-underlying-motor-of-racism-the-underlying-reason/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [In the long run, the people are our only appeal. The only ones who can free us are ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/in-the-long-run-the-people-are-our-only-appeal-the-only-ones-who-can/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [I think anybody who is honestly struggling against racism must struggle against imperialism and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/i-think-anybody-who-is-honestly-struggling-against-racism-must/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [Every person that steps up and commits to social change helps solidify the black movement cause. It is not easy for those who fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/every-person-that-steps-up-and-commits-to-social-change-helps/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [I think that people who want to change this planet have to seriously understand that as human beings we have to work to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/i-think-that-people-who-want-to-change-this-planet-have-to-seriously/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [If the U.S. succeeds in destroying the revolution, my status will be like that of most Cubans: I'll be up a creek without a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/if-the-u-s-succeeds-in-destroying-the-revolution-my-status-will-be/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [No one is going to give you the education you need to overthrow them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/no-one-is-going-to-give-you-the-education-you-need-to-overthrow-them/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [There's something nice about being able to go to sleep at night saying "You know, tomorrow I'm gonna get up and I'm gonna do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/there-s-something-nice-about-being-able-to-go-to-sleep-at-night/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [And if I know anything at all, it's that a wall is just a wall and nothing more at all. It can be broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/and-if-i-know-anything-at-all-it-s-that-a-wall-is-just-a-wall-and/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [Being in Cuba has allowed me to live in a society that is not at war with itself. There is a sense of community.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/being-in-cuba-has-allowed-me-to-live-in-a-society-that-is-not-at-war/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [“Don’t you know that slavery was outlawed?” “No,” the guard said, “you’re wrong. Slavery was outlawed with the exception of prisons. Slavery is legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/don-t-you-know-that-slavery-was-outlawed-no-the-guard-said-you-re/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [People get used to anything. The less you think about your oppression, the more your tolerance for it grows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/people-get-used-to-anything-the-less-you-think-about-your-oppression/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) [Explore all 161 Assata Shakur quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) ## More Active quotes > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [We in US need active intelligence: people being on the streets, people being able to stop and ask questions of individuals that they suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/we-in-us-need-active-intelligence-people-being-on-the-streets-people/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I eat healthy most of the time. Whole foods are the best for you when you are super active, so I get plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witney-carson/i-eat-healthy-most-of-the-time-whole-foods-are-the-best-for-you-when/) [Witney Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witney-carson/) > [Art shows us how to see things that are constructive and good, and to be an active part of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/art-shows-us-how-to-see-things-that-are-constructive-and-good-and-to/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. Love is not fundamentally a sweet feeling; not, at heart, a matter of sentiment, attachment, or being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-heyward/love-like-truth-and-beauty-is-concrete-love-is-not-fundamentally-a/) [Carter Heyward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-heyward/) > [Studying Sol's interior by looking for analogous patterns on its incandescent face is known as helioseismology, an active - if largely unpronounceable - research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/studying-sol-s-interior-by-looking-for-analogous-patterns-on-its/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [I stayed in L.A. long enough to get on my feet, and then I moved back to New York. The reason I moved here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/i-stayed-in-l-a-long-enough-to-get-on-my-feet-and-then-i-moved-back/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [The answer to any challenge you are having has nothing to do with God's willingness to help. It has to do with your acceptance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/the-answer-to-any-challenge-you-are-having-has-nothing-to-do-with-god/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [Pete Townsend for me was a huge influence. Because essentially they were a three-piece band and the way he structured his chords and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/pete-townsend-for-me-was-a-huge-influence-because-essentially-they/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [There is an enemy. There is an intelligent, active, malign force working against us. Step one is to recognize this. This recognition alone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/there-is-an-enemy-there-is-an-intelligent-active-malign-force-working/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [Few, if any, creatures are equally active all night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/few-if-any-creatures-are-equally-active-all-night/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [You need to enjoy yourself and just get into the routine of keeping fit and enjoying being active. That's always easier once you've made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-brownlee/you-need-to-enjoy-yourself-and-just-get-into-the-routine-of-keeping/) [Alistair Brownlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-brownlee/) Browse all 2,212 Active quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had grown up at a time when people were being lynched, being attacked with water hoses. 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