--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My forebears refused to cut the sugar…" description: "\"My forebears refused to cut the sugar cane for plantation owners, and I am recognisably a product of that background.\" — Diane Abbott" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a5/diane-abbott-16556_backgrounds_my-forebears-refused-to-cut-the-sugar-ca_2375535.png" --- # My forebears refused to cut the sugar cane for plantation… ![“My forebears refused to cut the sugar cane for plantation owners, and I am recognisably a product of that background.” quote by Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a5/diane-abbott-16556_backgrounds_my-forebears-refused-to-cut-the-sugar-ca_2375535.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a5/diane-abbott-16556_backgrounds_my-forebears-refused-to-cut-the-sugar-ca_2375535.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a5/diane-abbott-16556_backgrounds_my-forebears-refused-to-cut-the-sugar-ca_2375535.png) > “My forebears refused to cut the sugar cane for plantation owners, and I am recognisably a product of that background.” [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She highlights how her family's resistance to exploitation shaped her identity and perspective. **In simple terms:** Family history influences who we become. Key Takeaway Recognize how background shapes values. Themes heritage resistance identity Mood reflective determined Type political personal When to use this quote - political activism - community organizing - personal narrative - cultural education Key Concepts colonialism social class intergenerational trauma Questions to Reflect On - How does your family history affect your decisions? - What responsibilities arise from such a legacy? A Different Perspective Her background may not fully explain current choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Sugar cane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sugar-cane/) ## Related quotes > [I have been sustained by cane field, the cane plantation I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamisese-mara/i-have-been-sustained-by-cane-field-the-cane-plantation-i-have/) [Kamisese Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamisese-mara/) > [In this respect, granting homosexuals the right to marry is like granting plantation owners the right to own slaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/in-this-respect-granting-homosexuals-the-right-to-marry-is-like/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [Many Southern Plantation owners were working towards the day when they could convert their investment to more profitable industrial production as had been done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-edward-griffin/many-southern-plantation-owners-were-working-towards-the-day-when/) [G. Edward Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-edward-griffin/) > [“The past is not alive to them the way it is to Georges; they do not remember—and thus do not see the reality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-reiss/the-past-is-not-alive-to-them-the-way-it-is-to-georges-they-do-not/) [Tom Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-reiss/) > [“Sugar cane reach up to God And every baby crying Shame the blanket of my night And all my days are dying”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/sugar-cane-reach-up-to-god-and-every-baby-crying-shame-the-blanket-of/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“It is 2009, and sugar consumption continues to increase globally. Sucrose is a toxin and has no nutritional value to the human body. Isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breeze-harper/it-is-2009-and-sugar-consumption-continues-to-increase-globally/) Breeze Harper > [“But, don't care how firm your determination is, you can't keep turning round in one place like a horse grinding sugar cane.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/but-don-t-care-how-firm-your-determination-is-you-can-t-keep-turning/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [“Heal the past and you'll heal the present." Kharis Macey”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kharis-macey/heal-the-past-and-you-ll-heal-the-present-kharis-macey/) Kharis Macey > [Brother and mi father afi chop sugar cane. Pon the plantation under stress and shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/capleton/brother-and-mi-father-afi-chop-sugar-cane-pon-the-plantation-under/) [Capleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/capleton/) > [“Not every dream grows on every land, so you got to watch out! “Sugar cane” dreams should find the environment where there is flooding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/not-every-dream-grows-on-every-land-so-you-got-to-watch-out-sugar/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [To one who habitually endeavors to contemplate the true state of things, the political state can hardly be said to have any existence whatever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/to-one-who-habitually-endeavors-to-contemplate-the-true-state-of/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Playing golf is not hot work. Cutting sugar cane for a dollar a day - that's hot work. Hotter than my first wrist watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-rodriguez/playing-golf-is-not-hot-work-cutting-sugar-cane-for-a-dollar-a-day/) [Chi Chi Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-rodriguez/) > [“In China we say, "You can't expect both ends of a sugar cane are as sweet." Sometimes love can be ugly. But one still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xiaolu-guo/in-china-we-say-you-can-t-expect-both-ends-of-a-sugar-cane-are-as/) [Xiaolu Guo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xiaolu-guo/) > [Her eye fell everywhere on lawns and plantations of the freshest green; and the trees, though not fully clothed, were in that delightful state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/her-eye-fell-everywhere-on-lawns-and-plantations-of-the-freshest/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Greece is a sort of American vassal; the Netherlands is the country of American bases that grow like tulip bulbs; Cuba is the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/greece-is-a-sort-of-american-vassal-the-netherlands-is-the-country-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Diane Abbott > [It is time Britain put its trust back into the Labour Party. I believe I am the candidate that can make this happen precisely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/it-is-time-britain-put-its-trust-back-into-the-labour-party-i-believe/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [I believe every abortion is a tragedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/i-believe-every-abortion-is-a-tragedy/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [The honest truth is that if this government were to propose the massacre of the first-born, it would still have no difficulty in getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/the-honest-truth-is-that-if-this-government-were-to-propose-the/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [I was a postman one Christmas and I developed a morbid fear of dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/i-was-a-postman-one-christmas-and-i-developed-a-morbid-fear-of-dogs/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [Let's talk about the real issues of crime which people are worried about. What people are worried about is the rise in violent crime.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/let-s-talk-about-the-real-issues-of-crime-which-people-are-worried/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [I wanted my marriage to work, but it didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/i-wanted-my-marriage-to-work-but-it-didn-t/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [Mental health is often missing from public health debates even though it's critical to wellbeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/mental-health-is-often-missing-from-public-health-debates-even-though/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [White people love playing 'divide & rule'. We should not play their game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/white-people-love-playing-divide-rule-we-should-not-play-their-game/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [In politics, the people I most despise are those who have no values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/in-politics-the-people-i-most-despise-are-those-who-have-no-values/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [I want a Labour Party that is more democratic, more open and listens to its members.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/i-want-a-labour-party-that-is-more-democratic-more-open-and-listens/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [Tackling childhood obesity is key.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/tackling-childhood-obesity-is-key/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [I don't think you can have pain and soul-searching doing the right thing for your child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/i-don-t-think-you-can-have-pain-and-soul-searching-doing-the-right/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [Gun crime is a major cause of fear and distress throughout the UK. The problem is deeply entrenched in a wide range of social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/gun-crime-is-a-major-cause-of-fear-and-distress-throughout-the-uk-the/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [Being an MP is a good job, the sort of job all working-class parents want for their children -- clean, indoors and no heavy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/being-an-mp-is-a-good-job-the-sort-of-job-all-working-class-parents/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) > [My father was a manual worker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-abbott/my-father-was-a-manual-worker/) [Diane Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) [Explore all 39 Diane Abbott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-abbott/) ## More Backgrounds quotes > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [When you see how fragile and delicate life can be, all else fades into the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/when-you-see-how-fragile-and-delicate-life-can-be-all-else-fades-into/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. It is about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/worship-is-not-about-personality-temperament-personal-limitations/) [John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/) > [Eventually the consumer will come to appreciate the editorial point of view of every different brand. User-generated content without editorial oversight will simply be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eisner/eventually-the-consumer-will-come-to-appreciate-the-editorial-point/) [Michael Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eisner/) > [I bring my classical training - some of it, but not all of it - and also my background and culture, to spirituals. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-battle/i-bring-my-classical-training-some-of-it-but-not-all-of-it-and-also/) [Kathleen Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-battle/) > [The acting background helped a lot when I started writing. I was training for it. 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As sentient beings we have wonderful backgrounds. These backgrounds may not be particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-do-not-have-to-be-ashamed-of-what-we-are-as-sentient-beings-we/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [People from my sort of background needed grammar schools to compete with children from privileged homes like Shirley Williams and Anthony Wedgwood Benn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/people-from-my-sort-of-background-needed-grammar-schools-to-compete/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Persons who have cleansed themselves of any transgression and who have shown their ability to deal with homosexual inclinations and put them in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/persons-who-have-cleansed-themselves-of-any-transgression-and-who/) [Dallin H. 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