--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first point was we wanted power to…" description: "\"The first point was we wanted power to determine our own destiny in our own black community. And what we had done is, we wanted to write a program that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/bobby-seale-12903_black_the-first-point-was-we-wanted-power-to-d_3148697.jpg" --- # The first point was we wanted power to determine our own… ![“The first point was we wanted power to determine our own destiny in our own black community. And what we had done is, we wanted to write a program that was straightforward to the people. We didn't want to give a long dissertation.” quote by Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/bobby-seale-12903_black_the-first-point-was-we-wanted-power-to-d_3148697.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/bobby-seale-12903_black_the-first-point-was-we-wanted-power-to-d_3148697.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/bobby-seale-12903_black_the-first-point-was-we-wanted-power-to-d_3148697.jpg) > “The first point was we wanted power to determine our own destiny in our own black community. And what we had done is, we wanted to write a program that was straightforward to the people. We didn't want to give a long dissertation.” [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. The community wanted self‑determination and simple, direct programs rather than lengthy, complex proposals. **In simple terms:** People desired control over their fate with clear, concise plans. Key Takeaway Empower communities with straightforward actions. Themes self‑determination community politics communication Mood determined hopeful Type strategic inspirational When to use this quote - local meetings - community workshops - policy drafting Key Concepts grassroots organizing policy clarity education Questions to Reflect On - How can simplicity and depth be balanced? - What tools ensure community voices are heard? A Different Perspective Complex issues may need depth beyond simple programs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-community/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Did you have any goal other than reaching the crash site?” “You make it sound as though I conspired to get myself landed on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amie-kaufman/did-you-have-any-goal-other-than-reaching-the-crash-site-you-make-it/) [Amie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amie-kaufman/) > [If we know that we are now at the point where we have always wanted to be, we will be there. . . because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-twitchell/if-we-know-that-we-are-now-at-the-point-where-we-have-always-wanted/) [Paul Twitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-twitchell/) > [Never regret anything because at some point, you wanted it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-regret-anything-because-at-some-point-you-wanted-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But it seemed to me that as soon as you have computer storage you could put every point you wanted in - make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nelson/but-it-seemed-to-me-that-as-soon-as-you-have-computer-storage-you/) [Ted Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nelson/) > [“He had reached the point where all he wanted on earth was to be alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/he-had-reached-the-point-where-all-he-wanted-on-earth-was-to-be-alone/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [First, at a certain point, I wanted to have my own magazine, but I never could. Why? Because I am not commercial enough. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-ghesquiere/first-at-a-certain-point-i-wanted-to-have-my-own-magazine-but-i-never/) [Nicolas Ghesquiere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-ghesquiere/) > [I'd got to a point where I wanted a break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-armitage/i-d-got-to-a-point-where-i-wanted-a-break/) [Simon Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-armitage/) > [Never regret anything, beacuse at one point it was what you wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenize-ann/never-regret-anything-beacuse-at-one-point-it-was-what-you-wanted/) Kenize-ann > [I remember being asked for the first time about my race, and it really took me by surprise, just that it was a point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-hayward/i-remember-being-asked-for-the-first-time-about-my-race-and-it-really/) [Francesca Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-hayward/) > [I was a good liberal in some sense at that point. I wanted to end a war. I wanted to support the civil rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/i-was-a-good-liberal-in-some-sense-at-that-point-i-wanted-to-end-a/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [A people who have suffered so much for so long at hands of a racist society must draw the line somewhere… the black communities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/a-people-who-have-suffered-so-much-for-so-long-at-hands-of-a-racist/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [“The Black Panther Party was a revolutionary political organization. Although its members were leaders of the Black Power movement, they were not black nationalists.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/the-black-panther-party-was-a-revolutionary-political-organization/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [If you don't have the willpower to stop eating carbs, you won't have the willpower to do a dissertation. #truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-miller/if-you-don-t-have-the-willpower-to-stop-eating-carbs-you-won-t-have/) [Geoffrey Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-miller/) > [ Your tweet is as important as if you would have written a Ph.D. \[dissertation\] on the subject. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/your-tweet-is-as-important-as-if-you-would-have-written-a-ph-d/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [“What's a dissertation?" "If Satan gave you instructions for writing the book report from Hell, it would closely resemble those of a Ph.D. dissertation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-reisz/what-s-a-dissertation-if-satan-gave-you-instructions-for-writing-the/) [Tiffany Reisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-reisz/) ## 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 Black quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. 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We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. 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I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. 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