--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whenever people ask me: 'Why didn't you…" description: "\"Whenever people ask me: 'Why didn't you get up when the bus driver asked you?' I say it felt as though Harriet Tubman's hands were pushing me down on o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/claudette-colvin-17532_bus-driver_whenever-people-ask-me-why-didn-t-you-ge_1810026.jpg" --- # Whenever people ask me: 'Why didn't you get up when the… ![“Whenever people ask me: 'Why didn't you get up when the bus driver asked you?' I say it felt as though Harriet Tubman's hands were pushing me down on one shoulder and Sojourner Truth's hands were pushing me down on the other shoulder. I felt inspired by these women because my teacher taught us…” quote by Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/claudette-colvin-17532_bus-driver_whenever-people-ask-me-why-didn-t-you-ge_1810026.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/claudette-colvin-17532_bus-driver_whenever-people-ask-me-why-didn-t-you-ge_1810026.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/584/claudette-colvin-17532_bus-driver_whenever-people-ask-me-why-didn-t-you-ge_1810026.jpg) > “Whenever people ask me: 'Why didn't you get up when the bus driver asked you?' I say it felt as though Harriet Tubman's hands were pushing me down on one shoulder and Sojourner Truth's hands were pushing me down on the other shoulder. I felt inspired by these women because my teacher taught us about them in so much detail.” [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. She likens bus‑driver resistance to feeling the weight of historic civil‑rights leaders urging her onward. **In simple terms:** She feels inspired by Tubman and Truth when pressured. Key Takeaway Draw strength from role models. Themes courage history inspiration Mood determined reflective Type historical motivational When to use this quote - activism - public speaking - overcoming obstacles - education settings Key Concepts civil‑rights legacy personal motivation teacher influence Questions to Reflect On - How can we honor such legacies today? - What personal actions reflect that inspiration? A Different Perspective Historical comparison may oversimplify personal struggle. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bus driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bus-driver/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [We learned about people like Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Booker T. Washington and Marian Anderson. Harriet Tubman was my favorite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/we-learned-about-people-like-sojourner-truth-harriet-tubman-booker-t/) [Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/) > [I have crossed over on the backs of Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Madam C. J. Walker. Because of them I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-have-crossed-over-on-the-backs-of-sojourner-truth-harriet-tubman/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Ben Affleck inspired me and reignited my love for acting and filmmaking. It was a big part of getting me to a place where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clea-duvall/ben-affleck-inspired-me-and-reignited-my-love-for-acting-and/) [Clea DuVall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clea-duvall/) > [I used to write when I was in the mood or felt inspired. Anymore, I write whether I feel inspired or not. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/i-used-to-write-when-i-was-in-the-mood-or-felt-inspired-anymore-i/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [I've always been inspired by women, and my mission was to inspire women. I always wanted to become a certain kind of woman, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/i-ve-always-been-inspired-by-women-and-my-mission-was-to-inspire/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [For 'Narrow Stairs', the majority of the songs I brought in were guitar songs - songs we could sit in a room and just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/for-narrow-stairs-the-majority-of-the-songs-i-brought-in-were-guitar/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [Harriet Tubman didn't have strategy meetings or a movement behind her, she was the movement, she was inspired by being sick and tired of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha-hinds/harriet-tubman-didn-t-have-strategy-meetings-or-a-movement-behind-her/) [Aisha Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha-hinds/) > [Though I was excited about the Sojourner Truth play, it was not reassuring to think that my entire future might depend on the success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/though-i-was-excited-about-the-sojourner-truth-play-it-was-not/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [“in 1851, an aged black woman, who had been born a slave in New York, tall, thin, wearing a gray dress and white turban,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/in-1851-an-aged-black-woman-who-had-been-born-a-slave-in-new-york/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [There was nothing to aspire to, no one to honor. Sojourner Truth wasn't a big enough role model for me. I couldn't go around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/there-was-nothing-to-aspire-to-no-one-to-honor-sojourner-truth-wasn-t/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [“Certain black women faced the triple hurdle—of being abolitionists in a slave society, of being black among white reformers, and of being women in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/certain-black-women-faced-the-triple-hurdle-of-being-abolitionists-in/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [I am inspired by the women I meet everywhere I go. They have to work so hard just to make sure their families survive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/i-am-inspired-by-the-women-i-meet-everywhere-i-go-they-have-to-work/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [I am inspired by so much. I am inspired by women, of course - beautiful women. I am also inspired by not so beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-devaughn/i-am-inspired-by-so-much-i-am-inspired-by-women-of-course-beautiful/) [Raheem Devaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-devaughn/) > [I'm just really inspired by women and, for me, it's really important to work with someone who can relate to the female experience, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-nash/i-m-just-really-inspired-by-women-and-for-me-it-s-really-important-to/) [Kate Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-nash/) > [Every season I am inspired by women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-renta/every-season-i-am-inspired-by-women/) [Oscar de la Renta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-renta/) ## 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 Bus driver quotes > [I'm very proud of being Italian-American, but people don't realize that the mafia is just this aberration. The real community is built on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chazz-palminteri/i-m-very-proud-of-being-italian-american-but-people-don-t-realize/) [Chazz Palminteri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chazz-palminteri/) > [“Also today when you sit down to eat your meal, no matter where you are, try to think about the many people who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryusho-jeffus/also-today-when-you-sit-down-to-eat-your-meal-no-matter-where-you-are/) [Ryusho Jeffus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryusho-jeffus/) > [“In the twenty-first century it sounds childish to compare the human psyche to a steam engine. Today we know of a far more sophisticated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/in-the-twenty-first-century-it-sounds-childish-to-compare-the-human/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“Our story of bus drivers reveals the existence of the proverbial elephant in the room. It shows that the living standards of the huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-story-of-bus-drivers-reveals-the-existence-of-the-proverbial/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They have no idea that it can be done by a bus driver, a field hand, or a fry cook. They have no idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/they-have-no-idea-that-it-can-be-done-by-a-bus-driver-a-field-hand-or/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“At the end of the European leg, our lead guitar player pulled a knife on our bus driver in England. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duff-mckagan/at-the-end-of-the-european-leg-our-lead-guitar-player-pulled-a-knife/) [Duff McKagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duff-mckagan/) > [Just when U think nothing can surprise U, U see a bus driver bring out a hand mirror to look at the cars behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laylow/just-when-u-think-nothing-can-surprise-u-u-see-a-bus-driver-bring-out/) [Laylow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laylow/) > [“Strauss! Oh yes, he was so-so. He wrote pretty music- The Blue Danube and Tales from the Vienna Woods. But what is that compared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-keene/strauss-oh-yes-he-was-so-so-he-wrote-pretty-music-the-blue-danube-and/) [Carolyn Keene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-keene/) > [“So I am not a broken heart. I am not the weight I lost or miles or ran and I am not the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-eriksson/so-i-am-not-a-broken-heart-i-am-not-the-weight-i-lost-or-miles-or-ran/) [Charlotte Eriksson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-eriksson/) > [We tilt our heads back and open wide. The snow drifts into our zombie mouths crawling with grease and curses and tobacco flakes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-halse-anderson/we-tilt-our-heads-back-and-open-wide-the-snow-drifts-into-our-zombie/) [Laurie Halse Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-halse-anderson/) > [“In the vast majority of cases, however, getting into trouble has nothing to do with one's self-esteem. It usually has much more to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/in-the-vast-majority-of-cases-however-getting-into-trouble-has/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [You know who we hear about all the rappers from? 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