--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first thing I did [in Michigan] was…" description: "\"The first thing I did [in Michigan] was join a picket line of a pizzeria in Ann Harbor in 1963 that didn't allow African Americans to eat there.\" — Bil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a8/bill-ayers-1848_african-american_the-first-thing-i-did-in-michigan-was-jo_2690610.png" --- # The first thing I did \[in Michigan\] was join a picket line… ![“The first thing I did [in Michigan] was join a picket line of a pizzeria in Ann Harbor in 1963 that didn't allow African Americans to eat there.” quote by Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a8/bill-ayers-1848_african-american_the-first-thing-i-did-in-michigan-was-jo_2690610.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a8/bill-ayers-1848_african-american_the-first-thing-i-did-in-michigan-was-jo_2690610.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a8/bill-ayers-1848_african-american_the-first-thing-i-did-in-michigan-was-jo_2690610.png) > “The first thing I did \[in Michigan\] was join a picket line of a pizzeria in Ann Harbor in 1963 that didn't allow African Americans to eat there.” [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He joined a 1963 picket against a pizzeria that barred African Americans. **In simple terms:** He protested racial segregation at a pizzeria. Key Takeaway Stand against discrimination. Themes civil rights activism food service Mood determined reflective Type activist historical When to use this quote - community organizing - civil rights education - policy advocacy Key Concepts direct action solidarity Questions to Reflect On - What motivates individuals to confront injustice? - How can allies support anti‑discrimination efforts? A Different Perspective Risk of personal danger in protests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [African americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-americans/) [Didn Allow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-allow-370494/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Harbor 1963](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harbor-1963-2654246/) [Harbors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harbors/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Michigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/michigan/) [Picket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picket/) [Picket Line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picket-line-633682/) [Pizzeria Ann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pizzeria-ann-2654247/) ## Related quotes > [“You see what’s going on,” Dane said. Miserably he ran his hands over his head. “That is a picket line, and I am in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/you-see-what-s-going-on-dane-said-miserably-he-ran-his-hands-over-his/) [China Miéville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [I was a blue-eyed, chubby-cheeked five-year-old when I joined my family on the picket line for the first time. My mom made me leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/i-was-a-blue-eyed-chubby-cheeked-five-year-old-when-i-joined-my/) [Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/) > [Because of the dynamics on the picket line all my life, I had these expectations of people. It was all the things that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-phelps-roper/because-of-the-dynamics-on-the-picket-line-all-my-life-i-had-these/) [Megan Phelps-Roper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-phelps-roper/) > [In Greece, the picket line is forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikis-theodorakis/in-greece-the-picket-line-is-forbidden/) [Mikis Theodorakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikis-theodorakis/) > [I remember at the age of five travelling on a trolley car with my mother past a group of women on a picket line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-remember-at-the-age-of-five-travelling-on-a-trolley-car-with-my/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [now the profile of our country looks a little less hard nosed / but that picket line persisted and that clinic's since been closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/now-the-profile-of-our-country-looks-a-little-less-hard-nosed-but/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [If American workers are being denied their right to organize and collectively bargain when I'm in the White House, I will put on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/if-american-workers-are-being-denied-their-right-to-organize-and/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The picket line is the best place to train organizers. 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