--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My first introduction to South Africa's…" description: "\"My first introduction to South Africa's struggle for freedom came when I was just 17. I had volunteered to speak in my mother's stead at a United Natio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/bernice-king-7450_freedom_my-first-introduction-to-south-africa-s_1614417.png" --- # My first introduction to South Africa's struggle for… ![“My first introduction to South Africa's struggle for freedom came when I was just 17. I had volunteered to speak in my mother's stead at a United Nations forum on South Africa because she was unable to attend on that occasion.” quote by Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/bernice-king-7450_freedom_my-first-introduction-to-south-africa-s_1614417.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/bernice-king-7450_freedom_my-first-introduction-to-south-africa-s_1614417.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/bernice-king-7450_freedom_my-first-introduction-to-south-africa-s_1614417.png) > “My first introduction to South Africa's struggle for freedom came when I was just 17. I had volunteered to speak in my mother's stead at a United Nations forum on South Africa because she was unable to attend on that occasion.” [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early exposure to activism can arise from stepping in for others, highlighting personal responsibility in social justice. **In simple terms:** Youth can join causes by speaking up for others. Key Takeaway Take initiative when opportunities arise. Themes activism responsibility courage Mood inspirational hopeful Type educational empowering When to use this quote - school projects - community meetings - online advocacy Key Concepts social justice leadership empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can you prepare to speak for someone else? - What support helps you feel confident? A Different Perspective Not everyone feels prepared to speak publicly; fear may hinder participation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [South africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-africa/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggle for freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-for-freedom/) ## Related quotes > [In the long, fierce struggle for freedom of opinion, the press, like the Church, counted its martyrs by thousands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/in-the-long-fierce-struggle-for-freedom-of-opinion-the-press-like-the/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Everything that we perceive around us is struggling towards freedom, from the atom to the man, from the insentient, lifeless particle of matter to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/everything-that-we-perceive-around-us-is-struggling-towards-freedom/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Struggle for freedom. Where people are denied the right of choice, recourse to such struggle is the only means of achieving their liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/struggle-for-freedom-where-people-are-denied-the-right-of-choice/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [The struggle for freedom and human rights is universal and Canada used to be a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/the-struggle-for-freedom-and-human-rights-is-universal-and-canada/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [“I will not forget this wound to our country or those who inflicted it. I will not yield; I will not rest; I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-will-not-forget-this-wound-to-our-country-or-those-who-inflicted-it/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Angela Davis's legacy as a freedom fighter made her an enemy of the state under the increasingly neoliberal regimes of Nixon, Reagan and J.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/angela-davis-s-legacy-as-a-freedom-fighter-made-her-an-enemy-of-the/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [“In the long, fierce struggle for freedom of opinion, the press, like the Church, counted its martyrs by thousands. -James A. Garfield”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/in-the-long-fierce-struggle-for-freedom-of-opinion-the-press-like-the-2/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand have stood together in the long struggle for freedom for decades. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/canada-the-united-kingdom-the-united-states-australia-and-new-zealand/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [The struggle for freedom is ultimately not resistance to autocrats or oligarchs but resistance to the despotism of public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-struggle-for-freedom-is-ultimately-not-resistance-to-autocrats-or/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Thus, the struggle for peace includes the struggle for freedom and justice for the masses of all countries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-henderson/thus-the-struggle-for-peace-includes-the-struggle-for-freedom-and/) [Arthur Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-henderson/) > [The struggle for freedom and justice is now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/the-struggle-for-freedom-and-justice-is-now/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [I am known for a life spent in the struggle for freedom, and freedom includes the freedom of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/i-am-known-for-a-life-spent-in-the-struggle-for-freedom-and-freedom/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [Every revolution, bloody or not, has two phases. The first phase is defined by the struggle for freedom, the second by the struggle for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-michnik/every-revolution-bloody-or-not-has-two-phases-the-first-phase-is/) [Adam Michnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-michnik/) > [“Deep in our history of struggle for freedom, Canada was the North star”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/deep-in-our-history-of-struggle-for-freedom-canada-was-the-north-star/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [If a piece of burning charcoal be placed on a man’s head, see how he struggles to throw it off. Similar will be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/if-a-piece-of-burning-charcoal-be-placed-on-a-man-s-head-see-how-he/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More by Bernice King > [Nonviolence will empower and equip us to bring generations to the table and fuse our knowledge, gifts, and zeal together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/nonviolence-will-empower-and-equip-us-to-bring-generations-to-the/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [Before she was a King, my mother was a peace advocate, a courageous leader, and an accomplished artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/before-she-was-a-king-my-mother-was-a-peace-advocate-a-courageous/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [Before my mother was a King, she climbed trees and wrestled with boys. And won. Even as a child, Coretta Scott demonstrated that her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/before-my-mother-was-a-king-she-climbed-trees-and-wrestled-with-boys/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [At Grinnell College, for the first time in my life, I was in an all-white setting. It was a shocking experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/at-grinnell-college-for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-was-in-an-all/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [Continue to speak out against all forms of injustice to yourselves and others, and you will set a mighty example for your children and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/continue-to-speak-out-against-all-forms-of-injustice-to-yourselves/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [We cannot afford to regard as normal the presence of injustice, inhumanity, and violence, including their verbal and cyber manifestations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/we-cannot-afford-to-regard-as-normal-the-presence-of-injustice/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [Something big is going on. I'm talking about a society that refuses to allow injustice just to persist without making our voices heard and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/something-big-is-going-on-i-m-talking-about-a-society-that-refuses-to/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [With continued prayer and an equally-determined commitment to action for needed anti-violence reforms, let us resolve to work toward a new era in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/with-continued-prayer-and-an-equally-determined-commitment-to-action/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [Seek out your brothers and sisters of other cultures and join together in building alliances to put an end to all forms of racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/seek-out-your-brothers-and-sisters-of-other-cultures-and-join/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [Every time I go to these racial forums, it is people who are alike, or it is progressives and liberals. So I said, 'At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/every-time-i-go-to-these-racial-forums-it-is-people-who-are-alike-or/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [If each of us works toward making a sincere effort when we wake up each morning with a renewed commitment and dedication to embracing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/if-each-of-us-works-toward-making-a-sincere-effort-when-we-wake-up/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [I spend a lot of time meditating, which is something that I don't think most people know about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-meditating-which-is-something-that-i-don-t/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [It is painful beyond measure to lose a loving father and grandmother to violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/it-is-painful-beyond-measure-to-lose-a-loving-father-and-grandmother/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [Among her many accomplishments, my mother is often identified as the leader of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/among-her-many-accomplishments-my-mother-is-often-identified-as-the/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [The more you resist something, the more aggressive it becomes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/the-more-you-resist-something-the-more-aggressive-it-becomes/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) [Explore all 91 Bernice King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My first introduction to South Africa's struggle for freedom came when I was just 17. 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