--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a platform, and I can help. I can…" description: "\"I have a platform, and I can help. I can be in spaces that reporters will never be in because I'm a protester.\" — DeRay Mckesson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/deray-mckesson-4626_help_i-have-a-platform-and-i-can-help-i-can-b_2631773.jpg" --- # I have a platform, and I can help. I can be in spaces that… ![“I have a platform, and I can help. I can be in spaces that reporters will never be in because I'm a protester.” quote by DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/deray-mckesson-4626_help_i-have-a-platform-and-i-can-help-i-can-b_2631773.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/deray-mckesson-4626_help_i-have-a-platform-and-i-can-help-i-can-b_2631773.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ee/deray-mckesson-4626_help_i-have-a-platform-and-i-can-help-i-can-b_2631773.jpg) > “I have a platform, and I can help. I can be in spaces that reporters will never be in because I'm a protester.” [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Having a platform enables unique protest perspectives and access to exclusive spaces. **In simple terms:** Platform gives unique protest access. Key Takeaway Leverage platform for marginalized voices. Themes activism media visibility Mood reflective empowering Type ethical strategic When to use this quote - public speaking - media interviews - community organizing Key Concepts platform power social justice Questions to Reflect On - How to ensure platform amplifies varied voices? - What responsibilities accompany platform use? A Different Perspective Platform can create echo chambers, limiting diverse views. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Reporters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reporters/) ## Related quotes > [As a protester, I protested because I had to, not because it was exciting. I don't want to get tear-gassed again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/as-a-protester-i-protested-because-i-had-to-not-because-it-was/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [The individual protests against the world, but he doesn't get beyond protest, he is just a single protester. When he wants to be more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/the-individual-protests-against-the-world-but-he-doesn-t-get-beyond/) [Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/) > [I was never charged with tax evasion. I've never been a tax protester.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-snipes/i-was-never-charged-with-tax-evasion-i-ve-never-been-a-tax-protester/) [Wesley Snipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-snipes/) > [I've always had questions about what it meant to be a protester, to be in the minority. Are the people who are trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-ve-always-had-questions-about-what-it-meant-to-be-a-protester-to-be/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [Well the protester I think is a very powerful thing. It's basically a mechanism of democracy that, along with capitalism, scientific innovation, those things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/well-the-protester-i-think-is-a-very-powerful-thing-it-s-basically-a/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Any protester knows that the only way activism works is to get the people on your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/any-protester-knows-that-the-only-way-activism-works-is-to-get-the/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > ['Superbetter' looks more like a social media platform or a social network than a typical video game. You know, there aren't any 3-d spaces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/superbetter-looks-more-like-a-social-media-platform-or-a-social/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [Microsoft runs the world's biggest blogging platform, MSN Spaces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/microsoft-runs-the-world-s-biggest-blogging-platform-msn-spaces/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [The spaces between your fingures were created so someone elses could fill them.. And after a break- up we realize that that persons didnt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curly-girl/the-spaces-between-your-fingures-were-created-so-someone-elses-could/) Curly Girl > [In New York, we're always confined with spaces. Our restaurants are difficult to navigate as cooks and to operate. We fight against the buildings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/in-new-york-we-re-always-confined-with-spaces-our-restaurants-are/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [A lot of young drummers have a tendency to really overplay. Sometimes simple is better, and the notes that aren't played between the spaces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinnie-paul/a-lot-of-young-drummers-have-a-tendency-to-really-overplay-sometimes/) [Vinnie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinnie-paul/) > [The first time I met Evidence he was rapping outside of the Troubadour in L.A. He had these big spaces in his teeth, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-alchemist/the-first-time-i-met-evidence-he-was-rapping-outside-of-the/) The Alchemist > [I've always been a homemaker, like, I like creating spaces. Even if I stay in a hotel, I'll unpack, I'll put my books out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-ve-always-been-a-homemaker-like-i-like-creating-spaces-even-if-i/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [Around the world, our cities are not the idealised open, accessible, and cosmopolitan spaces of our dreams. More often than not, they are sectioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzodinma-iweala/around-the-world-our-cities-are-not-the-idealised-open-accessible-and/) [Uzodinma Iweala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzodinma-iweala/) > [Most people don't grow up. It's too damn difficult. What happens is most people get older. That's the truth of it. They honor their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/most-people-don-t-grow-up-it-s-too-damn-difficult-what-happens-is/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) ## More by DeRay Mckesson > [I love Baltimore. This city has made me the man that I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-love-baltimore-this-city-has-made-me-the-man-that-i-am/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [The first time I was ever impressed with Patagonia as a brand was when they released the 'Don't Buy This Jacket' campaign. That campaign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/the-first-time-i-was-ever-impressed-with-patagonia-as-a-brand-was/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [For our kids to go to school, they must be alive, and for adults to work, they must not be in jail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/for-our-kids-to-go-to-school-they-must-be-alive-and-for-adults-to/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [When our response to all trauma is to call the police, then that gets us into a cycle of perpetuating trauma. Mental health trauma…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/when-our-response-to-all-trauma-is-to-call-the-police-then-that-gets/) [Deray McKesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [I think that I, because of student government and because of working in Baltimore, knew how to be creative with very little resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-think-that-i-because-of-student-government-and-because-of-working/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [Social media allowed us to become our own storytellers. With it, we seized the power of our truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/social-media-allowed-us-to-become-our-own-storytellers-with-it-we/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [What we know to be true is that comfort isn't always freedom. People confuse the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/what-we-know-to-be-true-is-that-comfort-isn-t-always-freedom-people/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [Donald Trump is dangerous. The truth is that the bigotry and hatred that he speaks have real consequences in people's lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/donald-trump-is-dangerous-the-truth-is-that-the-bigotry-and-hatred/) [Deray McKesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [I will never forget the first time I was teargassed or the night I hid under my steering wheel as the SWAT vehicle drove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-will-never-forget-the-first-time-i-was-teargassed-or-the-night-i/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [There is nothing romantic about teargas. Or smoke bombs or rubber bullets or sound cannons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/there-is-nothing-romantic-about-teargas-or-smoke-bombs-or-rubber/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [Most of my life's information is public. I got a text one day from a hacker who texted me all of my credit card…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/most-of-my-life-s-information-is-public-i-got-a-text-one-day-from-a/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [When I think about protest, I worry so much that people think about it only as standing in the streets. And I say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/when-i-think-about-protest-i-worry-so-much-that-people-think-about-it/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [I think that Silicon Valley and technology can play a huge role in redefining what community looks like and how people come together and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-think-that-silicon-valley-and-technology-can-play-a-huge-role-in/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [There are people who have demonstrated their willingness to challenge systems and structures, and then when it comes to elections, some of those same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/there-are-people-who-have-demonstrated-their-willingness-to-challenge/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [Skills acquisition is really at the heart of what it means to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/skills-acquisition-is-really-at-the-heart-of-what-it-means-to-learn/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) [Explore all 108 DeRay Mckesson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) ## More Help quotes > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [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/) > [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [As much as you want to improve or help the team, as a centre-back your job is to go under the radar and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrone-mings/as-much-as-you-want-to-improve-or-help-the-team-as-a-centre-back-your/) [Tyrone Mings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrone-mings/) > [I want to help people struggling with whatever it is they're going through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santan-dave/i-want-to-help-people-struggling-with-whatever-it-is-they-re-going/) [Santan Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santan-dave/) > [There is a talent in dyslexia - it can help you see things creatively. So I wouldn't change a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-william-middleton/there-is-a-talent-in-dyslexia-it-can-help-you-see-things-creatively/) [James William Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-william-middleton/) > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [You give because you love and cannot help giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/you-give-because-you-love-and-cannot-help-giving/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [For young people in the U.K. who find themselves without anywhere to live - perhaps they have left the family home after a relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/for-young-people-in-the-u-k-who-find-themselves-without-anywhere-to/) [Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/) > [Disasters affect every state, and North Carolinians have given our own tax dollars to help neighbors and those in other states in times of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/disasters-affect-every-state-and-north-carolinians-have-given-our-own/) [Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/) > [Try to help people rather than focusing on what's in it for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brogan/try-to-help-people-rather-than-focusing-on-what-s-in-it-for-me/) [Chris Brogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brogan/) > [God, help me to focus on Truth instead of the trial. Help me to give thanks instead of giving into fear. Help me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-daugherty/god-help-me-to-focus-on-truth-instead-of-the-trial-help-me-to-give/) Whitney Daugherty > [To nurture the sort of relationships that will truly help propel you towards accomplishing great things, you need to forget transactional networking and focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/to-nurture-the-sort-of-relationships-that-will-truly-help-propel-you/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [When certain stars take you under their wing, it does help as they gauge your potential and are willing to work with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-bhatt/when-certain-stars-take-you-under-their-wing-it-does-help-as-they/) [Vikram Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-bhatt/) > [Obviously you help your team win by producing runs. But you also help your team win by preventing runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-crawford/obviously-you-help-your-team-win-by-producing-runs-but-you-also-help/) [Brandon Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-crawford/) [Browse all 8,763 Help quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have a platform, and I can help. 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