Becoming Quote by Ayi Kwei Armah
“True, I used to see a lot of hope. I saw men tear down the veils behind which the truth had been hidden. But then the same men, when they have power in their hands at last, began to find the veils useful. They made many more. Life has not changed. Only some people have been growing, becoming different, that is all. After a youth spent fighting the white man, why should not the president discover as he grows older that his real desire has been to be like the white governor himself, to live above all the blackness in the big old slave castle?”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Healers, 1979
Power corrupts, leading leaders to create new barriers while claiming to reveal truth, perpetuating oppression.
In simple terms: Power creates hidden obstacles.
Key Takeaway
Beware of those who claim truth while wielding power.
Themes
power
corruption
truth
oppression
identity
colonialism
Mood
critical
somber
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- social movements
- education reform
- community organizing
Key Concepts
political manipulation
social control
racial dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does power alter one's perception of truth?
- What can individuals do to resist new forms of oppression?
A Different Perspective
May generalize all leaders as corrupt, ignoring genuine reformers.
