--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the only time you bang the drum is…" description: "\"If the only time you bang the drum is when it's time to get someone elected, and you don't get involved in a mass movement, then you're working against..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/boots-riley-3549_change_if-the-only-time-you-bang-the-drum-is-wh_383671.jpg" --- # If the only time you bang the drum is when it's time to… ![“If the only time you bang the drum is when it's time to get someone elected, and you don't get involved in a mass movement, then you're working against real and substantive change.” quote by Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/boots-riley-3549_change_if-the-only-time-you-bang-the-drum-is-wh_383671.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/boots-riley-3549_change_if-the-only-time-you-bang-the-drum-is-wh_383671.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/boots-riley-3549_change_if-the-only-time-you-bang-the-drum-is-wh_383671.jpg) > “If the only time you bang the drum is when it's time to get someone elected, and you don't get involved in a mass movement, then you're working against real and substantive change.” [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political activism loses impact when reduced to mere election tactics without broader movement involvement. **In simple terms:** Activism needs mass movement, not just elections. Key Takeaway Engage in collective action beyond voting. Themes politics activism movement change Mood determined critical Type political motivational When to use this quote - elections - community organizing - protests - policy advocacy Key Concepts democracy grassroots organizing systemic reform Questions to Reflect On - How can you support change outside of voting? - What grassroots actions can amplify your political goals? A Different Perspective Focusing only on elections can ignore deeper structural issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I mean, when's the last time we elected a president based on one year of service in the Senate before he started running? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-mean-when-s-the-last-time-we-elected-a-president-based-on-one-year/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Our state needs to make real, substantive structural changes to facilitate a sustainable financial future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-lamont/our-state-needs-to-make-real-substantive-structural-changes-to/) [Ned Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-lamont/) > [In the culture we live in, there's this pervasive, shared agreement that there's a certain body type to admire, and it isn't actually based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dallas-howard/in-the-culture-we-live-in-there-s-this-pervasive-shared-agreement/) [Bryce Dallas Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dallas-howard/) > [When real substantive change happens it's the people who watch your show, they're the ones that make it happen. It's people whose names are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/when-real-substantive-change-happens-it-s-the-people-who-watch-your/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [The only time we create any kind of substantive change is when we reach out to a disaffected electorate and inspire and motivate them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/the-only-time-we-create-any-kind-of-substantive-change-is-when-we/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [ \[The labor movement is\] a movement of the working people, for the working people, by the working people, governed by ourselves, with its policies… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-gompers/the-labor-movement-is-a-movement-of-the-working-people-for-the/) [Samuel Gompers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-gompers/) > [I wasn't part of any movement. I was working alone, following my instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-klein/i-wasn-t-part-of-any-movement-i-was-working-alone-following-my/) [William Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-klein/) > [Our movement is of the working people, for the working people, by the working people. . . . There is not a right too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-gompers/our-movement-is-of-the-working-people-for-the-working-people-by-the/) [Samuel Gompers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-gompers/) > [If what you want is actual change, then what has to be built is a mass movement that is militant and can use direct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/if-what-you-want-is-actual-change-then-what-has-to-be-built-is-a-mass/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [Sometimes a few passionate people change the world; sometimes they start a mass movement and millions do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/sometimes-a-few-passionate-people-change-the-world-sometimes-they/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [When you are dealing with a mass movement, as opposed to a quote-unquote "elite," you are talking to people who don't have time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hamilton/when-you-are-dealing-with-a-mass-movement-as-opposed-to-a-quote/) [Rebecca Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hamilton/) > [One, a mass movement from within, which, as you know, is constantly being put down brutally but which, again, regroups and moves forward as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/one-a-mass-movement-from-within-which-as-you-know-is-constantly-being/) [Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/) > [If the Negro is to achieve the goal of integration, he must organize himself into a militant and nonviolent mass movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/if-the-negro-is-to-achieve-the-goal-of-integration-he-must-organize/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [People haunted by the purposelessness of their lives try to find a new content not only by dedicating themselves to a holy cause but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/people-haunted-by-the-purposelessness-of-their-lives-try-to-find-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [The Brexit campaign was transformed from a fringe eccentricity into a mass movement by a handful of people who decided to make it into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/the-brexit-campaign-was-transformed-from-a-fringe-eccentricity-into-a/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) ## More by Boots Riley > [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [I think it's important for us not just to edit the culture that capitalism creates but to create the material basis for a culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/i-think-it-s-important-for-us-not-just-to-edit-the-culture-that/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [The tech world is not a new phenomenon; it's a new era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/the-tech-world-is-not-a-new-phenomenon-it-s-a-new-era/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [What I'm trying to do is make music that people relate to, that talks about ideas that are personal but also make that connection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/what-i-m-trying-to-do-is-make-music-that-people-relate-to-that-talks/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [I thought my parents were always having card parties - and they were - but they were actually also having meetings to organize people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/i-thought-my-parents-were-always-having-card-parties-and-they-were/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [Going to school in San Francisco, you're not going to meet as many people that are making films as you would if you went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/going-to-school-in-san-francisco-you-re-not-going-to-meet-as-many/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [What I like about music is that you make a song, you've got your ideas in it, and people make that song part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/what-i-like-about-music-is-that-you-make-a-song-you-ve-got-your-ideas/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [What first got me involved in politics was being 14, and a youth organizer comes to my house with a van full of 14…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/what-first-got-me-involved-in-politics-was-being-14-and-a-youth/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [I think most people would love for us to be a socialist society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/i-think-most-people-would-love-for-us-to-be-a-socialist-society/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [A lot of organizers tell me that while they are making signs or doing whatever they do, they are listening to the Coup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/a-lot-of-organizers-tell-me-that-while-they-are-making-signs-or-doing/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [When we were doing shows in the mid-'90s, the audiences were 95% black. What's happened now is the gentrification of hip-hop. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/when-we-were-doing-shows-in-the-mid-90s-the-audiences-were-95-black/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [You make art, you make it from what you know, and that's the best way to make art. You get lost in the details…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/you-make-art-you-make-it-from-what-you-know-and-that-s-the-best-way/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [The Coup does not support the American flag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/the-coup-does-not-support-the-american-flag/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [I'm not a classically trained composer, and I can't sing very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/i-m-not-a-classically-trained-composer-and-i-can-t-sing-very-well/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [I wanted to write a song about sexism, but I didn't want to do it in a mechanical way and be like, "Don't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/i-wanted-to-write-a-song-about-sexism-but-i-didn-t-want-to-do-it-in-a/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) [Explore all 128 Boots Riley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the only time you bang the drum is when it's time to get someone elected, and you don't get involved in a mass movement, then you're working against real and substantive change.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Boots Riley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/if-the-only-time-you-bang-the-drum-is-when-it-s-time-to-get-someone/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/if-the-only-time-you-bang-the-drum-is-when-it-s-time-to-get-someone/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/boots-riley-3549_change_if-the-only-time-you-bang-the-drum-is-wh_383671.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/boots-riley-3549_change_if-the-only-time-you-bang-the-drum-is-wh_383671.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/boots-riley-3549_change_if-the-only-time-you-bang-the-drum-is-wh_383671.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If the only time you bang the drum is when it's time to get someone elected, and you don't get involved in a…” — Boots Riley", "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": "Boots Riley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If the only time you bang...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/if-the-only-time-you-bang-the-drum-is-when-it-s-time-to-get-someone/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/if-the-only-time-you-bang-the-drum-is-when-it-s-time-to-get-someone/#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 } } ] } ```