--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Negro wants to be everything but…" description: "\"The Negro wants to be everything but himself... He wants to integrate with the white man, but he cannot integrate with himself or with his own kind. Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe6/elijah-muhammad-21471_civil-rights_the-negro-wants-to-be-everything-but-him_2237982.jpg" --- # The Negro wants to be everything but himself... He wants… ![“The Negro wants to be everything but himself... He wants to integrate with the white man, but he cannot integrate with himself or with his own kind. The Negro wants to lose his identity because he does not know his own identity.” quote by Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe6/elijah-muhammad-21471_civil-rights_the-negro-wants-to-be-everything-but-him_2237982.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe6/elijah-muhammad-21471_civil-rights_the-negro-wants-to-be-everything-but-him_2237982.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe6/elijah-muhammad-21471_civil-rights_the-negro-wants-to-be-everything-but-him_2237982.jpg) > “The Negro wants to be everything but himself... He wants to integrate with the white man, but he cannot integrate with himself or with his own kind. The Negro wants to lose his identity because he does not know his own identity.” [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the struggle of African Americans trying to adopt white norms while losing touch with their own cultural identity. **In simple terms:** Black people may abandon their heritage trying to fit in. Key Takeaway Embrace and preserve your cultural roots. Themes identity assimilation racial dynamics Mood thoughtful determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - community building - education - personal development Key Concepts cultural erasure self‑identity crisis social pressure Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your identity feel most threatened? - How can you honor your heritage while engaging broader society? A Different Perspective The pressure to conform can cause internal conflict and loss of heritage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Integrating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrating/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Kind Negro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind-negro-5061492/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Loses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loses/) [Man Integrate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-integrate-5061493/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Negro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negro/) [Negro Wants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negro-wants-5061491/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wants Integrate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wants-integrate-5061494/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-man/) ## Related quotes > [What the Negro wants - and will not stop until he gets - is absolute and unqualified freedom and equality here in this land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/what-the-negro-wants-and-will-not-stop-until-he-gets-is-absolute-and/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The Negro neighborhood, which is inferior, is begging for a chance to - integrate itself into that which is - is superior, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-negro-neighborhood-which-is-inferior-is-begging-for-a-chance-to/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [At Microsoft I had many years of experience and history and seeing connections. With my direct reports, the job at Microsoft was to delegate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/at-microsoft-i-had-many-years-of-experience-and-history-and-seeing/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [I tend to integrate poet and scholar is by ironizing the scholarship. My hope is to disturb that space between the two so they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-pardlo/i-tend-to-integrate-poet-and-scholar-is-by-ironizing-the-scholarship/) [Gregory Pardlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-pardlo/) > [It is important to integrate immigrants into society and to welcome them in the church community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/it-is-important-to-integrate-immigrants-into-society-and-to-welcome/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [You have to find ways of integrating what you like into your business life. And it's difficult at times, but I think over time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anousheh-ansari/you-have-to-find-ways-of-integrating-what-you-like-into-your-business/) [Anousheh Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anousheh-ansari/) > [We can never prove that we are free or integrate our freedom in any way into our objective conception of the causal order of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-w-wood/we-can-never-prove-that-we-are-free-or-integrate-our-freedom-in-any/) [Allen W. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-w-wood/) > [I also think that employees these days expect less of a separation of work and personal life. That doesn't mean that work tasks should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-benioff/i-also-think-that-employees-these-days-expect-less-of-a-separation-of/) [Marc Benioff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-benioff/) > [The material of music is sound and silence. 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There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) ## More by Elijah Muhammad > [Your Lord is bountiful to mankind: yet most of them do not give thanks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/your-lord-is-bountiful-to-mankind-yet-most-of-them-do-not-give-thanks/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) > [Whoever knows himself knows God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/whoever-knows-himself-knows-god/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) > [When the first man created Himself, He was the light of the circle. Then He willed the sun into being It was 6 trillion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/when-the-first-man-created-himself-he-was-the-light-of-the-circle/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) > [And they will ask thee of the spirit. Say: The spirit proceedeth at my Lord's command; but of knowledge, only a little is given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/and-they-will-ask-thee-of-the-spirit-say-the-spirit-proceedeth-at-my/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) > [One hour of contemplation surpasses sixty years of worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/one-hour-of-contemplation-surpasses-sixty-years-of-worship/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) > [Reviling a Muslim is disobedience to God, and fighting with him is infidelity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/reviling-a-muslim-is-disobedience-to-god-and-fighting-with-him-is/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) > [Asking good questions is half of learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/asking-good-questions-is-half-of-learning/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) > [Love of self comes first. The one who loves everybody is the one who does not love anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/love-of-self-comes-first-the-one-who-loves-everybody-is-the-one-who/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) > [ “Don't condemn if you see a person has a dirty glass of water, \[…\] just show them the clean glass of water that you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/don-t-condemn-if-you-see-a-person-has-a-dirty-glass-of-water-just-2/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) > [“The search of knowledge is an obligation laid on every Muslim.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/the-search-of-knowledge-is-an-obligation-laid-on-every-muslim/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) > [Four characteristics constitute anyone who possesses them a sheer hypocrite, and anyone who possesses one of them possesses a characteristic of hypocrisy till he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/four-characteristics-constitute-anyone-who-possesses-them-a-sheer/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) > [By God ye shall be called to account for your doings!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/by-god-ye-shall-be-called-to-account-for-your-doings/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) > [A Muslim has five duties towards another Muslim; to return a salutation, visit the sick, follow funerals, accept an invitation and say 'God have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/a-muslim-has-five-duties-towards-another-muslim-to-return-a/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) > [... and we will test you with evil and with good; and unto us shall ye be brought back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/and-we-will-test-you-with-evil-and-with-good-and-unto-us-shall-ye-be/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) > [Accept your own and be yourself!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-muhammad/accept-your-own-and-be-yourself/) [Elijah Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) [Explore all 29 Elijah Muhammad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-muhammad/) ## More Civil rights quotes > [Every one knows that the exercise of military power is forever dangerous to civil rights; and we have had recent instances of violences that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/every-one-knows-that-the-exercise-of-military-power-is-forever/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [I am for freedom of religion, and against all maneuvers to bring about a legal ascendency of one sect over another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-am-for-freedom-of-religion-and-against-all-maneuvers-to-bring-about/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/i-speak-not-for-myself-but-so-those-without-a-voice-can-be-heard/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [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/) > [“Why do we apologize for advocating for ourselves? Why do we apologize for taking up space that we are entitled to? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tambascio/why-do-we-apologize-for-advocating-for-ourselves-why-do-we-apologize/) [Elizabeth Tambascio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-tambascio/) > [We are a nation of innovators and problem-solvers who sparked revolutions in democratic government, civil rights, communications, flight, rural electrification and technology. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/we-are-a-nation-of-innovators-and-problem-solvers-who-sparked/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Civil rights leaders are involved in helping poor people. That's what I've been doing all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/civil-rights-leaders-are-involved-in-helping-poor-people-that-s-what/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [I grew up in the early '60s, and there was a lot of civil rights, a lot of unrest in our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herm-edwards/i-grew-up-in-the-early-60s-and-there-was-a-lot-of-civil-rights-a-lot/) [Herm Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herm-edwards/) > [The great paradox of the civil rights revolution is that instead of enforcing and expanding equality before the law, the revolution created differential rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-great-paradox-of-the-civil-rights-revolution-is-that-instead-of/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [The world - and America - has been defined by people who haven't necessarily abided by the laws and the rules. 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