--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not for myself I make this prayer, But…" description: "\"Not for myself I make this prayer, But for this race of mine That stretches forth from shadowed places Dark hands for bread and wine.\" — Countee Cullen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/countee-cullen-16922_bread_not-for-myself-i-make-this-prayer-but-fo_2193153.jpg" --- # Not for myself I make this prayer, But for this race of… ![“Not for myself I make this prayer, But for this race of mine That stretches forth from shadowed places Dark hands for bread and wine.” quote by Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/countee-cullen-16922_bread_not-for-myself-i-make-this-prayer-but-fo_2193153.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/countee-cullen-16922_bread_not-for-myself-i-make-this-prayer-but-fo_2193153.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/countee-cullen-16922_bread_not-for-myself-i-make-this-prayer-but-fo_2193153.jpg) > “Not for myself I make this prayer, But for this race of mine That stretches forth from shadowed places Dark hands for bread and wine.” [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He prays for his race, seeking sustenance and hope amid oppression. **In simple terms:** Prayer for his people’s survival. Key Takeaway Pray for collective well‑being. Themes race prayer hope Mood hopeful reflective Type spiritual political When to use this quote - civil rights activism - community support - faith practice Key Concepts spirituality social justice poetry Questions to Reflect On - What role does faith play in social movements? - How can collective prayer inspire action? A Different Perspective The prayer may assume a monolithic racial experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread/) [Bread and wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread-and-wine/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [Are you suffering emotionally and spiritually? Take at least 30 minutes each day after you wake up and go to sleep at night to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-seaport/are-you-suffering-emotionally-and-spiritually-take-at-least-30/) [Pauline Seaport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-seaport/) > [Make the most of prayer. ... Prayer is the master-weapon. 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(Abraham 14.40)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quran/my-lord-make-me-keep-up-prayer-and-from-my-offspring-too-o-our-lord/) [Quran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quran/) > [“Do not turn to prayer only in times of grief, suffering and rage. Make prayer a habit whether you are blissful or sorrowful, serene…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-ruprell/do-not-turn-to-prayer-only-in-times-of-grief-suffering-and-rage-make/) [Pooja Ruprell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-ruprell/) > [Those who know God the best are the richest and most powerful in prayer. 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Make prayer a habit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abubakar-sh/prayer-is-a-free-outgoing-call-to-god-no-network-or-battery-problem/) Abubakar Sh > [Forehead, nose , knees and toes. All pressed before the Lord. Before I rose I chose to make a prayer of my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boonaa-mohammed/forehead-nose-knees-and-toes-all-pressed-before-the-lord-before-i/) [Boonaa Mohammed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boonaa-mohammed/) > [Lord, by the words of consecration the substance of the bread and wine is converted into the substance of your Body and Blood. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mary-claret/lord-by-the-words-of-consecration-the-substance-of-the-bread-and-wine/) [Anthony Mary Claret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mary-claret/) ## More by Countee Cullen > [There is no secret to success except hard work and getting something indefinable which we call 'the breaks.' 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A book one thumbs Listlessly, till slumber comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/africa-a-book-one-thumbs-listlessly-till-slumber-comes/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [What is Africa to me: Copper sun or scarlet sea, Jungle star or jungle track, Strong bronzed men, or regal black Women from whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/what-is-africa-to-me-copper-sun-or-scarlet-sea-jungle-star-or-jungle/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [Your love to me was like an unread book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/your-love-to-me-was-like-an-unread-book/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [Give but a grain of the heart's rich seed, Confine some under cover, And when love goes, bid him God-speed. And find another lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/give-but-a-grain-of-the-heart-s-rich-seed-confine-some-under-cover/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [Whatever lives is granted breath But by the grace and sufferance of Death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/whatever-lives-is-granted-breath-but-by-the-grace-and-sufferance-of/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [The loss of love is a terrible thing; They lie who say that death is worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/the-loss-of-love-is-a-terrible-thing-they-lie-who-say-that-death-is/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [My poetry has become the way of my giving out what music is within me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/my-poetry-has-become-the-way-of-my-giving-out-what-music-is-within-me/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) [Explore all 38 Countee Cullen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) ## More Bread quotes > [French women don't eat Wonder Bread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireille-guiliano/french-women-don-t-eat-wonder-bread/) [Mireille Guiliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireille-guiliano/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. 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No, it’s not the sugar (GI = 68), it’s not the candy bar (GI…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-perlmutter/nine-times-out-of-ten-people-pick-the-wrong-food-no-it-s-not-the/) [David Perlmutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-perlmutter/) > [Waffles аrе јust awesome bread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/waffles-r-ust-awesome-bread/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [At my age, I don't buy but a half a loaf of bread, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/at-my-age-i-don-t-buy-but-a-half-a-loaf-of-bread-you-know/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [Jesus Christ would have been considered just another long-haired hippie freak if he hadn't been crucified. 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Cavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-cavanaugh/) [Browse all 2,164 Bread quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Not for myself I make this prayer, But for this race of mine That stretches forth from shadowed places Dark hands for bread and wine.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Countee Cullen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/not-for-myself-i-make-this-prayer-but-for-this-race-of-mine-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bread" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/not-for-myself-i-make-this-prayer-but-for-this-race-of-mine-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/countee-cullen-16922_bread_not-for-myself-i-make-this-prayer-but-fo_2193153.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/countee-cullen-16922_bread_not-for-myself-i-make-this-prayer-but-fo_2193153.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/244/countee-cullen-16922_bread_not-for-myself-i-make-this-prayer-but-fo_2193153.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Not for myself I make this prayer, But for this race of mine That stretches forth from shadowed places Dark…” — Countee Cullen", "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": "Countee Cullen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Not for myself I make this...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/not-for-myself-i-make-this-prayer-but-for-this-race-of-mine-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/not-for-myself-i-make-this-prayer-but-for-this-race-of-mine-that/#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 } } ] } ```