--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I think people, especially white…" description: "\"But I think people, especially white people, have to come to understand that the language of the ghetto is a language of its own, and as the party - wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/bobby-seale-12903_ghetto_but-i-think-people-especially-white-peop_2281771.jpg" --- # But I think people, especially white people, have to come… ![“But I think people, especially white people, have to come to understand that the language of the ghetto is a language of its own, and as the party - whose members for the most part come from the ghetto - seeks to talk to the people, it must speak the people's language.” quote by Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/bobby-seale-12903_ghetto_but-i-think-people-especially-white-peop_2281771.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/bobby-seale-12903_ghetto_but-i-think-people-especially-white-peop_2281771.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/bobby-seale-12903_ghetto_but-i-think-people-especially-white-peop_2281771.jpg) > “But I think people, especially white people, have to come to understand that the language of the ghetto is a language of its own, and as the party - whose members for the most part come from the ghetto - seeks to talk to the people, it must speak the people's language.” [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective communication with marginalized groups requires using their own linguistic and cultural expressions. **In simple terms:** Speak in the language of the people you address. Key Takeaway Use community language to connect. Themes communication culture politics Mood serious empathetic Type political educational When to use this quote - political rallies - community meetings - grassroots campaigns Key Concepts sociolinguistics identity Questions to Reflect On - How can you authentically learn a community’s language? - What boundaries ensure respectful communication? A Different Perspective Adopting language may risk stereotyping or appropriation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ghetto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ghetto/) [Ghetto Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ghetto-language-1319075/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Language Ghetto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-ghetto-5032537/) [Members](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/members/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-language-975587/) [People Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-speak/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-people/) ## Related quotes > [In my mind, there's nothing wrong with it. I don't instinctively know what's wrong with it. There is a language of the ghetto. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/in-my-mind-there-s-nothing-wrong-with-it-i-don-t-instinctively-know/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Ghetto language. Bathroom = Baafrumm. Refrigerator = Fridgerataa. Remote control = Moken troll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ghetto-language-bathroom-baafrumm-refrigerator-fridgerataa-remote/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That's how my mom was. She did that. She went out of her way to say hi to people or to speak to people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-wagner/that-s-how-my-mom-was-she-did-that-she-went-out-of-her-way-to-say-hi/) [Bobby Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-wagner/) > [It's usually, my people speak to your people and then they speak around each other and trade calls for weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-steenburgen/it-s-usually-my-people-speak-to-your-people-and-then-they-speak/) [Mary Steenburgen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-steenburgen/) > [I would have stage-fright if I had to speak with every one of the people before whom I speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/i-would-have-stage-fright-if-i-had-to-speak-with-every-one-of-the/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [What separates or unites people is not their language, their laws, their customs, their principles, but the way they hold their knife and fork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ir-ne-n-mirovsky/what-separates-or-unites-people-is-not-their-language-their-laws/) [Irene Nemirovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ir-ne-n-mirovsky/) > [A people without a language of its own, is only half a nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-people-without-a-language-of-its-own-is-only-half-a-nation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A people without a language of its own is only half a nation. A nation should guard its language more than its territories, 'tis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-davis/a-people-without-a-language-of-its-own-is-only-half-a-nation-a-nation/) [Thomas Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-davis/) > [Money can be more of a barrier between people than language or race or religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-caspary/money-can-be-more-of-a-barrier-between-people-than-language-or-race/) [Vera Caspary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-caspary/) > [“They're one people, with one language and they can do goddamn anything! Nothing is impossible for these bastards! (11:6)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ebling/they-re-one-people-with-one-language-and-they-can-do-goddamn-anything/) [Steve Ebling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ebling/) > [“It seems that in almost all societies, the attitudes that people have to language change is basically the same. People everywhere tend to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-crowley/it-seems-that-in-almost-all-societies-the-attitudes-that-people-have/) [Terry Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-crowley/) > [Sometimes you love people in a language they cannot understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritesh/sometimes-you-love-people-in-a-language-they-cannot-understand/) [Ritesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritesh/) > [People have to have a language to speak about where they are and what other possible futures are available to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-hall/people-have-to-have-a-language-to-speak-about-where-they-are-and-what/) [Stuart Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-hall/) > [Talk to people in their own language. If you do it well, they'll say,"God, he said exactly what I was thinking." And when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/talk-to-people-in-their-own-language-if-you-do-it-well-they-ll-say/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [ \[Everybody Loves Somebody\] one really loves both cultures, represents them in a very accurate, genuine, authentic, fun, fresh way, and it includes so many… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karla-souza/everybody-loves-somebody-one-really-loves-both-cultures-represents/) [Karla Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karla-souza/) ## More by Bobby Seale > [I think I can capture the taste buds of the average right-wing conservative who loves barbecue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/i-think-i-can-capture-the-taste-buds-of-the-average-right-wing/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [You don't fight racism with racism, the best way to fight racism is with solidarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/you-don-t-fight-racism-with-racism-the-best-way-to-fight-racism-is/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [The Black Panther Party was not a gang. They grew out of a young black intelligentsia on college campuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/the-black-panther-party-was-not-a-gang-they-grew-out-of-a-young-black/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [A people who have suffered so much for so long at the hands of a racist society must draw the line somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/a-people-who-have-suffered-so-much-for-so-long-at-the-hands-of-a/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [I have quite a few good friends in Philadelphia who were police officers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/i-have-quite-a-few-good-friends-in-philadelphia-who-were-police/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [Electoral politics was always an objective of the Black Panther party, so Barack Obama is a part of what we dreamed and struggled and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/electoral-politics-was-always-an-objective-of-the-black-panther-party/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [They came down on us because we had a grass-roots, real people's revolution, complete with the programs, complete with the unity, complete with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/they-came-down-on-us-because-we-had-a-grass-roots-real-people-s/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [When we use the term pig, for example, we are referring to the people who systematically violate the peoples' constitutional rights - whether they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/when-we-use-the-term-pig-for-example-we-are-referring-to-the-people/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [When donors visited the Black Panther Party, they came and saw our real programs, a real clinic, with real doctors and medics, giving service…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/when-donors-visited-the-black-panther-party-they-came-and-saw-our/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [“While appreciating its accomplishments, we must acknowledge that the legal end of segregation fell short of bringing African Americans to full equality. Joshua may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/while-appreciating-its-accomplishments-we-must-acknowledge-that-the/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [The Black Panther party of Self-Defense is a revolutionary party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/the-black-panther-party-of-self-defense-is-a-revolutionary-party/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [The only solution to pollution is a people's humane revolution!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/the-only-solution-to-pollution-is-a-people-s-humane-revolution/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [I'm still a political revolutionary. The fire never went out of me, but perceptions and realizations change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/i-m-still-a-political-revolutionary-the-fire-never-went-out-of-me-but/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [Our position was: If you don't attack us, there won't be any violence; if you bring violence to us, we will defend ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/our-position-was-if-you-don-t-attack-us-there-won-t-be-any-violence/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [On the one hand, the guns were there to help capture the imagination of the people. But more important, since we knew that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/on-the-one-hand-the-guns-were-there-to-help-capture-the-imagination/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) [Explore all 52 Bobby Seale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) ## More Ghetto quotes > [He demeanor of the Ghetto, to never stay settled. Aldermen and corrupt men play Pharaoh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/common/he-demeanor-of-the-ghetto-to-never-stay-settled-aldermen-and-corrupt/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/common/) > [Kill dem hoe's whid kindness..!\*](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-h/kill-dem-hoe-s-whid-kindness/) [Miranda H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-h/) > [I'm just one woman away, my mother, from being the same as Mike Tyson. I would've ended up like him if my mama had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/i-m-just-one-woman-away-my-mother-from-being-the-same-as-mike-tyson-i/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [Richard Price, who has made a fortune writing fake ghetto books, says he takes a cab into the ghetto, transcribes Black speech for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/richard-price-who-has-made-a-fortune-writing-fake-ghetto-books-says/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [No mama, no papa, and I live in the ghetto. I'm just a child from a broken home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-aitken/no-mama-no-papa-and-i-live-in-the-ghetto-i-m-just-a-child-from-a/) [Laurel Aitken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-aitken/) > [If the Jews had issues with the Polish people then why during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, did the Jewish underground hang two flags from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-duda/if-the-jews-had-issues-with-the-polish-people-then-why-during-the/) [Andrzej Duda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-duda/) > [I don't belong to any school or clique or ghetto. I don't have any preconceived ideas. I'm trying to serve a story and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-dolan/i-don-t-belong-to-any-school-or-clique-or-ghetto-i-don-t-have-any/) [Xavier Dolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-dolan/) > [“Ghetto Fiction with a twist take a peak it's the shit. Not for the timid or the meek don't be scared take a peek...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-rubio/ghetto-fiction-with-a-twist-take-a-peak-it-s-the-shit-not-for-the/) [Cynthia Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-rubio/) > [Willy DeVille knows the truth of a city street and the courage in a ghetto love song. And the harsh reality in his voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-pomus/willy-deville-knows-the-truth-of-a-city-street-and-the-courage-in-a/) [Doc Pomus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-pomus/) > [I'm the ghetto Martha Stewart, the black Rachel Ray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coolio/i-m-the-ghetto-martha-stewart-the-black-rachel-ray/) [Coolio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coolio/) > [Reaching out to any fellow ghetto kids is an act he puts in the same category as doing drugs: the initial rush of warmth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-suskind/reaching-out-to-any-fellow-ghetto-kids-is-an-act-he-puts-in-the-same/) [Ron Suskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-suskind/) > [I try to use my experience and the fact that I grew up in the ghetto - I tell people you don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-t/i-try-to-use-my-experience-and-the-fact-that-i-grew-up-in-the-ghetto/) [Mr. T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-t/) > [The roots of my music start from the ghetto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/the-roots-of-my-music-start-from-the-ghetto/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) > [I'm still ghetto. That's not going to change. I'm never going to change my culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metta-world-peace/i-m-still-ghetto-that-s-not-going-to-change-i-m-never-going-to-change/) [Metta World Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metta-world-peace/) > [In 'Curvy,' they are superhappy with their sizes. We help them dress fashionably. We say: It's pointless for you to buy leggings, take this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franca-sozzani/in-curvy-they-are-superhappy-with-their-sizes-we-help-them-dress/) [Franca Sozzani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franca-sozzani/) [Browse all 569 Ghetto quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ghetto/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But I think people, especially white people, have to come to understand that the language of the ghetto is a language of its own, and as the party - whose members for the most part come from the ghetto - seeks to talk to the people, it must speak the people's language.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bobby Seale" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/but-i-think-people-especially-white-people-have-to-come-to-understand/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ghetto" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/but-i-think-people-especially-white-people-have-to-come-to-understand/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/bobby-seale-12903_ghetto_but-i-think-people-especially-white-peop_2281771.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/bobby-seale-12903_ghetto_but-i-think-people-especially-white-peop_2281771.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/bobby-seale-12903_ghetto_but-i-think-people-especially-white-peop_2281771.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But I think people, especially white people, have to come to understand that the language of the ghetto is a…” — Bobby Seale", "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": "Bobby Seale", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But I think people, especially white...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/but-i-think-people-especially-white-people-have-to-come-to-understand/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/but-i-think-people-especially-white-people-have-to-come-to-understand/#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 } } ] } ```