---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I go back to the parallels with 1963…"
description: "\"I go back to the parallels with 1963, 1964 when white America really became aware of the brutality of segregation, the cruelty of the apartheid system ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/cleve-jones-12503_african-american_i-go-back-to-the-parallels-with-1963-196_931841.jpg"
---

#  I go back to the parallels with 1963, 1964 when white…

![“I go back to the parallels with 1963, 1964 when white America really became aware of the brutality of segregation, the cruelty of the apartheid system which existed in the south. Then white people began to get on the freedom buses and travel to the south and be part of the voter registration…” quote by Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/cleve-jones-12503_african-american_i-go-back-to-the-parallels-with-1963-196_931841.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/cleve-jones-12503_african-american_i-go-back-to-the-parallels-with-1963-196_931841.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/cleve-jones-12503_african-american_i-go-back-to-the-parallels-with-1963-196_931841.jpg)

> “I go back to the parallels with 1963, 1964 when white America really became aware of the brutality of segregation, the cruelty of the apartheid system which existed in the south. Then white people began to get on the freedom buses and travel to the south and be part of the voter registration drives and they... some of them were beaten and some of them were murdered but they stood with the African-American community and the civil rights movement. It's time for straight people to do that today and it is time for gay people to insist that they do that today.”

[Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/)

## About This Quote

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

Historical allyship shows solidarity can overcome oppression; today, straight allies must support gay rights.

**In simple terms:** Allyship is essential for equality.

Key Takeaway

Stand with marginalized communities.

Themes

solidarity civil rights activism

Mood

inspired serious

Type

activist educational

When to use this quote

- voter registration drives
- public demonstrations
- educational campaigns

Key Concepts

historical precedent social justice intersectionality

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you become an active ally?
- What concrete steps will you take?

A Different Perspective

Allyship requires ongoing commitment, not just symbolic acts.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Apartheid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apartheid/) [Brutality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutality/) [Civil Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-right/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Civil rights movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights-movement/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelty/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-people/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Segregation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/segregation/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Voter registration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voter-registration/) [Voters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voters/) [White people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-people/)

## Related quotes

> [I vividly remember the summer of 1964 with its voter registration drives, boiling racial tensions, and the erupting awareness of the cruelty of racism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/i-vividly-remember-the-summer-of-1964-with-its-voter-registration/)

[Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/)

> [Whenever we do voter registration, we ask, 'Why haven't you voted before?' The response is often, 'No one's asked us.' It's not about telling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosario-dawson/whenever-we-do-voter-registration-we-ask-why-haven-t-you-voted-before/)

[Rosario Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosario-dawson/)

> [Republicans are systematically and deliberately trying to stop millions of American citizens from voting. What part of democracy are they afraid of? I call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/republicans-are-systematically-and-deliberately-trying-to-stop/)

[Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/)

> [One of the things I know about my family, my generation, and my ethic background is that we put in work and I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/one-of-the-things-i-know-about-my-family-my-generation-and-my-ethic/)

[Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/)

> [Let's remind ourselves that offering an opportunity for somebody to register to vote at the Department of Motor Vehicles has been required by federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audie-cornish/let-s-remind-ourselves-that-offering-an-opportunity-for-somebody-to/)

[Audie Cornish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audie-cornish/)

> [Mass mailing ballots to voters depends on voter registration rolls that are notoriously error-ridden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fitton/mass-mailing-ballots-to-voters-depends-on-voter-registration-rolls/)

[Tom Fitton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fitton/)

> [Las Vegas is perhaps the most color-blind, class-free place in America. As long as your cash or credit line holds out, no one gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-cooper/las-vegas-is-perhaps-the-most-color-blind-class-free-place-in-america/)

[Marc Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-cooper/)

> [The rules in this new 'post-partisan' era are pretty simple: If the Democratic Party wants it, it's 'stimulus.' If the Republican Party opposes it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/the-rules-in-this-new-post-partisan-era-are-pretty-simple-if-the/)

[Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/)

> [Moore's only concession to the Democrats' role-playing is to deny that he is a Democrat, hoping enough Americans were taught by public school teachers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/moore-s-only-concession-to-the-democrats-role-playing-is-to-deny-that/)

[Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/)

> [Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was more politically oriented. Part and parcel of the initial SNCC efforts was to not only go in for voter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/student-nonviolent-coordinating-committee-was-more-politically/)

[Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/)

> [The pastors and ministry leaders came away energized to have voter registration drives at their churches and motivated to encourage their congregations to "vote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-smith/the-pastors-and-ministry-leaders-came-away-energized-to-have-voter/)

[Paul Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-smith/)

> [To let the people know there was life beyond Shirley Dean, we decided to focus on voter registration; each day I set up my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wavy-gravy/to-let-the-people-know-there-was-life-beyond-shirley-dean-we-decided/)

[Wavy Gravy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wavy-gravy/)

> [Jeb Bush is facing criticism after it was just revealed that he checked off his race as 'Hispanic' on a voter registration form back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/jeb-bush-is-facing-criticism-after-it-was-just-revealed-that-he/)

[Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/)

> [When I lived in California, 1984 to '87, it was a Republican state. Sacramento where I lived was 73% Democrat voter registration, when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/when-i-lived-in-california-1984-to-87-it-was-a-republican-state/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [Immigration, as promoted by the Democrat Party, really is a voter registration drive, pure and simple. It is a desire by the Democrat Party…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/immigration-as-promoted-by-the-democrat-party-really-is-a-voter/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

## More by Cleve Jones

> [If I had to say what my one greatest achievement is, it's that I lasted, and I'm still happy. I hope that comes through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/if-i-had-to-say-what-my-one-greatest-achievement-is-it-s-that-i/)

[Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/)

> [If you tell me I can't understand you because of my color or you can't understand me because of your sexual orientation or she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/if-you-tell-me-i-can-t-understand-you-because-of-my-color-or-you-can/)

[Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/)

> [Everybody will always find some way of diminishing your work, but it's all a lie!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/everybody-will-always-find-some-way-of-diminishing-your-work-but-it-s/)

[Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/)

> [During those days when you're exhausted and during those days when you're frustrated, during those days when you're being attacked by your own people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/during-those-days-when-you-re-exhausted-and-during-those-days-when/)

[Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/)

> [What people haven't quite grasped yet is that the rich are transforming cities all across the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/what-people-haven-t-quite-grasped-yet-is-that-the-rich-are/)

[Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/)

> [Any social movement that seeks to benefit only its own members I think is a shallow movement and probably doomed to failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/any-social-movement-that-seeks-to-benefit-only-its-own-members-i/)

[Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/)

> [I have no personal desire to get married whatsoever and I certainly have no desire to be a soldier. I'm old school, I'm from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/i-have-no-personal-desire-to-get-married-whatsoever-and-i-certainly/)

[Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/)

> [I saw great hope in the Sanders campaign - a flawed candidate, not perfect, but pretty damn close. Millions of young people were inspired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/i-saw-great-hope-in-the-sanders-campaign-a-flawed-candidate-not/)

[Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/)

> [The sense of urgency has almost completely vanished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/the-sense-of-urgency-has-almost-completely-vanished/)

[Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/)

> [The joy with which we denigrate each others' efforts, I hate that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/the-joy-with-which-we-denigrate-each-others-efforts-i-hate-that/)

[Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/)

> [ If we \[gays\] want to be equal under the law, we must now - as the great heroes of the Civil Rights movement of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/if-we-gays-want-to-be-equal-under-the-law-we-must-now-as-the-great/)

[Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/)

> [I don't have any hobbies! I don't golf, I can't imagine what I would do if I retired other than get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/i-don-t-have-any-hobbies-i-don-t-golf-i-can-t-imagine-what-i-would-do/)

[Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/)

> [Hello! The world is a mess!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/hello-the-world-is-a-mess/)

[Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/)

> [Dealing with Hollywood and commercial entertainment, you always have to worry that the political message is going to be skewed or obscured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/dealing-with-hollywood-and-commercial-entertainment-you-always-have/)

[Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/)

> [The penalties for homosexual conduct were - would vary from state to state, but they were - it was a felony in most states…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/the-penalties-for-homosexual-conduct-were-would-vary-from-state-to/)

[Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/)

[Explore all 54 Cleve Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/)

## More African american quotes

> [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/)

[Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/)

> [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/)

[Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/)

> [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/)

[Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/)

> [“This popularity extended to Trump himself, who, according to private demographic research conducted at the time, was even more popular with African American and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/this-popularity-extended-to-trump-himself-who-according-to-private/)

[Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/)

> [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/)

[Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/)

> [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/)

> [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/)

[Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/)

> [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&amp;B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/)

[Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/)

> [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/)

[Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/)

> [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/)

> [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/)

[Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/)

> [I think it's easier for African American and white comics to be praised than it is Latinos because they think our culture or our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-think-it-s-easier-for-african-american-and-white-comics-to-be/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [“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/)

> [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/)

[Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/)

[Browse all 1,848 African american quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I go back to the parallels with 1963, 1964 when white America really became aware of the brutality of segregation, the cruelty of the apartheid system which existed in the south. Then white people began to get on the freedom buses and travel to the south and be part of the voter registration drives and they... some of them were beaten and some of them were murdered but they stood with the African-American community and the civil rights movement. It's time for straight people to do that today and it is time for gay people to insist that they do that today.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Cleve Jones"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/i-go-back-to-the-parallels-with-1963-1964-when-white-america-really/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "African american"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/i-go-back-to-the-parallels-with-1963-1964-when-white-america-really/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/cleve-jones-12503_african-american_i-go-back-to-the-parallels-with-1963-196_931841.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/cleve-jones-12503_african-american_i-go-back-to-the-parallels-with-1963-196_931841.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/cleve-jones-12503_african-american_i-go-back-to-the-parallels-with-1963-196_931841.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I go back to the parallels with 1963, 1964 when white America really became aware of the brutality of…” — Cleve Jones",
                "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": "Cleve Jones",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I go back to the parallels...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/i-go-back-to-the-parallels-with-1963-1964-when-white-america-really/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/i-go-back-to-the-parallels-with-1963-1964-when-white-america-really/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
