---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For African-Americans, it's still going…"
description: "\"For African-Americans, it's still going to be - some people say double hard - I'd say four times as hard. Be an opportunist. Take advantage of your res..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/claudette-colvin-17532_african-americans_for-african-americans-it-s-still-going-t_2976073.jpg"
---

#  For African-Americans, it's still going to be - some…

![“For African-Americans, it's still going to be - some people say double hard - I'd say four times as hard. Be an opportunist. Take advantage of your resources, because the only way to win is with education, self-esteem, having value in yourself.” quote by Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/claudette-colvin-17532_african-americans_for-african-americans-it-s-still-going-t_2976073.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/claudette-colvin-17532_african-americans_for-african-americans-it-s-still-going-t_2976073.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/claudette-colvin-17532_african-americans_for-african-americans-it-s-still-going-t_2976073.jpg)

> “For African-Americans, it's still going to be - some people say double hard - I'd say four times as hard. Be an opportunist. Take advantage of your resources, because the only way to win is with education, self-esteem, having value in yourself.”

[Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

African‑Americans face compounded challenges; education and self‑worth are essential tools for overcoming systemic barriers.

**In simple terms:** Four times the difficulty; education is key.

Key Takeaway

Invest in learning and self‑esteem.

Themes

race inequality education

Mood

determined empowering

Type

motivational practical

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- community activism
- personal development

Key Concepts

sociology empowerment

Questions to Reflect On

- What resources can amplify personal growth?
- How can communities support each other?

A Different Perspective

Education alone cannot erase structural racism.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[African americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-americans/) [Double Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/double-hard-4606866/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard Opportunist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-opportunist-4606867/) [Hard Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-say/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [For some people everything comes very easy, In my case I have to do double hard work to get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-some-people-everything-comes-very-easy-in-my-case-i-have-to-do/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There were many African Americans - many, many stories similar to my story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/there-were-many-african-americans-many-many-stories-similar-to-my/)

[Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

> [It's hard to say what iconically will hit, resonate and stay with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stromberg/it-s-hard-to-say-what-iconically-will-hit-resonate-and-stay-with/)

[Robert Stromberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stromberg/)

> [If I'm within reach and can be helpful, I have a tendency to say 'Yes.' It's hard to say 'No.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hamlisch/if-i-m-within-reach-and-can-be-helpful-i-have-a-tendency-to-say-yes/)

[Marvin Hamlisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hamlisch/)

> [Hard to say I'm sorry... After all thats been said and done, you're just a part of me that I cant let go...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hard-to-say-i-m-sorry-after-all-thats-been-said-and-done-you-re-just/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Why is it so hard to say no to him? Is this what it's like to be in love with somebody?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/why-is-it-so-hard-to-say-no-to-him-is-this-what-it-s-like-to-be-in/)

[Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/)

> [“How can you say you're not in love with Hell?" "Because I'm not in love with Hell." See? Not hard to say at all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-mykles/how-can-you-say-you-re-not-in-love-with-hell-because-i-m-not-in-love/)

[Jet Mykles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-mykles/)

> [It's hard for me to say I'm hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raquel-pennington/it-s-hard-for-me-to-say-i-m-hurt/)

[Raquel Pennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raquel-pennington/)

> [When goodbye is too hard to say...please stay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-pheona/when-goodbye-is-too-hard-to-say-please-stay/)

[Mercy Pheona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-pheona/)

> [It's just hard to say, "Well, I do this, which means this." If I'm telling you exactly who I am, then there's nothing for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/it-s-just-hard-to-say-well-i-do-this-which-means-this-if-i-m-telling/)

[Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/)

> [I find it hard to say, because when I was there it seemed to be shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-freud/i-find-it-hard-to-say-because-when-i-was-there-it-seemed-to-be-shut/)

[Clement Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-freud/)

> [But whether he was happy or not was hard to say. Probably he was neither, just as a plant is neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-whether-he-was-happy-or-not-was-hard-to-say-probably-he-was/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“It is hard to say it is well when you are inside the well but is better to look up in life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikechukwu-joseph/it-is-hard-to-say-it-is-well-when-you-are-inside-the-well-but-is/)

[Ikechukwu Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikechukwu-joseph/)

> [Make up your stories, but truth's so hard to say. Brain is numb and your tongue will surely dig you grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megadeth/make-up-your-stories-but-truth-s-so-hard-to-say-brain-is-numb-and/)

[Megadeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megadeth/)

> [It's hard to say sorry when It's really your fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakii-retondo/it-s-hard-to-say-sorry-when-it-s-really-your-fault/)

[Rakii Retondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakii-retondo/)

## More by Claudette Colvin

> [I lost most of my friends. Their parents had told them to stay away from me, because they said I was crazy, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/i-lost-most-of-my-friends-their-parents-had-told-them-to-stay-away/)

[Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

> [When I got to 10th grade at Booker T. Washington High, I had a teacher, Miss Geraldine Nesbitt. I think she came from New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/when-i-got-to-10th-grade-at-booker-t-washington-high-i-had-a-teacher/)

[Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

> [I always tell young people to hold on to their dreams. And sometimes you have to stand up for what you think is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/i-always-tell-young-people-to-hold-on-to-their-dreams-and-sometimes/)

[Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

> [I just couldn't move. History had me glued to the seat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/i-just-couldn-t-move-history-had-me-glued-to-the-seat/)

[Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

> [There were many African Americans - many, many stories similar to my story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/there-were-many-african-americans-many-many-stories-similar-to-my/)

[Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

> [I left the South in 1963 and was living in Morristown, New Jersey, when the March on Washington took place, so I watched it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/i-left-the-south-in-1963-and-was-living-in-morristown-new-jersey-when/)

[Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

> [I was ostracized by my community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/i-was-ostracized-by-my-community/)

[Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

> [When you've been abused daily and you see people humiliated and harassed, you just get tired of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/when-you-ve-been-abused-daily-and-you-see-people-humiliated-and/)

[Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

> [I wanted the young African-American girls also on the bus to know that they had a right to be there, because they had paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/i-wanted-the-young-african-american-girls-also-on-the-bus-to-know/)

[Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

> [I became aware of how the world is and how the white establishment plays black people against each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/i-became-aware-of-how-the-world-is-and-how-the-white-establishment/)

[Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

> [A lot has changed since I grew up, but there's still a long way to go. I don't think we can move forward with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/a-lot-has-changed-since-i-grew-up-but-there-s-still-a-long-way-to-go/)

[Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

> [I wanted to be an attorney. My mother would say I never stopped talking. I always had a lot of questions to ask, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/i-wanted-to-be-an-attorney-my-mother-would-say-i-never-stopped/)

[Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

> [We were churchgoing people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/we-were-churchgoing-people/)

[Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

> [A lot of African American women wanted to emulate white women. But I said in my mind, rationally thinking, there is no way you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/a-lot-of-african-american-women-wanted-to-emulate-white-women-but-i/)

[Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

> [I'd like my grandchildren to be able to see that their grandmother stood up for something, a long time ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/i-d-like-my-grandchildren-to-be-able-to-see-that-their-grandmother/)

[Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

[Explore all 37 Claudette Colvin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/)

## More African americans quotes

> [In a lot of movies, African-Americans are either maids or slaves, but that's not all they were. We need to show that. And we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-schroeder/in-a-lot-of-movies-african-americans-are-either-maids-or-slaves-but/)

[Allison Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-schroeder/)

> [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/)

[Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/)

> [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/)

[Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/)

> [“Alabama in 1927 alone, 27,701 men were arrested on misdemeanor charges and offered for sale by county sheriffs. In Blackmon’s estimation, “roughly half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-haney-l-pez/alabama-in-1927-alone-27-701-men-were-arrested-on-misdemeanor-charges/)

[Ian Haney López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-haney-l-pez/)

> [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/)

[Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/)

> [“He (Zerubavel) draws attention to the social influences on perception (what people notice), attention and concern (what people care about), classification (how people categorize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-griswold/he-zerubavel-draws-attention-to-the-social-influences-on-perception/)

[Wendy Griswold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-griswold/)

> [To those African-Americans suffering in our country, I say, what do you have to lose? Vote for Trump, I'm going to fix it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/to-those-african-americans-suffering-in-our-country-i-say-what-do-you/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [Affirmative action was designed to recognize the uniquely difficult journey of African-Americans. This policy was justifiable and understandable, even to those who came from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-webb/affirmative-action-was-designed-to-recognize-the-uniquely-difficult/)

[Jim Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-webb/)

> [“The black officer checks Daddy while his partner glances around at all of the onlookers. There's quite a few of us now. Ms. Yvette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/the-black-officer-checks-daddy-while-his-partner-glances-around-at/)

[Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/)

> [African Americans are doing a lot already, but I think we have an opportunity right now to change politics in a way that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckmann/african-americans-are-doing-a-lot-already-but-i-think-we-have-an/)

[David Beckmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckmann/)

> [The uncomfortable reality we must face is that California, like the nation as a whole, has treated generations of African Americans and Latinos as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/the-uncomfortable-reality-we-must-face-is-that-california-like-the/)

[Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/)

> [Since the nations founding, African Americans repeatedly have been controlled through institutions such as slavery and Jim Crow, which appear to die but then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/since-the-nations-founding-african-americans-repeatedly-have-been/)

[Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/)

> [You take a look at the history of African Americans in the US. There's been about thirty years of relative freedom. There was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/you-take-a-look-at-the-history-of-african-americans-in-the-us-there-s/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Michael Schultz's 'Cooley High' is a classic. Oftentimes, we don't get to see films about coming of age, especially for young African Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/michael-schultz-s-cooley-high-is-a-classic-oftentimes-we-don-t-get-to/)

[Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/)

> [As African-Americans, we don't start with a blank slate, while other people may. In our position, there's always some sort of stereotype that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-woods/as-african-americans-we-don-t-start-with-a-blank-slate-while-other/)

[Xavier Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-woods/)

[Browse all 593 African americans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-americans/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "For African-Americans, it's still going to be - some people say double hard - I'd say four times as hard. Be an opportunist. Take advantage of your resources, because the only way to win is with education, self-esteem, having value in yourself.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Claudette Colvin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/for-african-americans-it-s-still-going-to-be-some-people-say-double/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "African americans"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/for-african-americans-it-s-still-going-to-be-some-people-say-double/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/claudette-colvin-17532_african-americans_for-african-americans-it-s-still-going-t_2976073.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/claudette-colvin-17532_african-americans_for-african-americans-it-s-still-going-t_2976073.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/claudette-colvin-17532_african-americans_for-african-americans-it-s-still-going-t_2976073.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“For African-Americans, it's still going to be - some people say double hard - I'd say four times as hard. Be…” — Claudette Colvin",
                "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": "Claudette Colvin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "For African-Americans, it's still going to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/for-african-americans-it-s-still-going-to-be-some-people-say-double/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/for-african-americans-it-s-still-going-to-be-some-people-say-double/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
