--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While he was in the service, in the South…" description: "\"While he was in the service, in the South and in Oklahoma, he was refused service at a couple of places where he was in uniform, and was told that Afri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/893/eric-holder-7429_african_while-he-was-in-the-service-in-the-south_3121572.jpg" --- # While he was in the service, in the South and in Oklahoma… ![“While he was in the service, in the South and in Oklahoma, he was refused service at a couple of places where he was in uniform, and was told that African Americans, blacks, Negros, were not served. And in spite of that, I've never known a man who loved this country more than my father did.” quote by Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/893/eric-holder-7429_african_while-he-was-in-the-service-in-the-south_3121572.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/893/eric-holder-7429_african_while-he-was-in-the-service-in-the-south_3121572.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/893/eric-holder-7429_african_while-he-was-in-the-service-in-the-south_3121572.jpg) > “While he was in the service, in the South and in Oklahoma, he was refused service at a couple of places where he was in uniform, and was told that African Americans, blacks, Negros, were not served. And in spite of that, I've never known a man who loved this country more than my father did.” [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He faced discrimination despite serving his country, yet his patriotism remained unwavering. **In simple terms:** He was treated unfairly but still loved his country. Key Takeaway Respect and support those who serve despite prejudice. Themes patriotism racism family service Mood proud reflective Type historical personal When to use this quote - military service - civil rights activism - family discussions - public policy debates Key Concepts civil rights military service loyalty Questions to Reflect On - How does personal sacrifice influence love for a nation? - What can be done to honor those who face bias while serving? A Different Perspective Discrimination can erode trust in institutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african/) [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [African americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-americans/) [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [Americans Blacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-blacks-2930169/) [Blacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blacks/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Negros Served](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negros-served-5482446/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Oklahoma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oklahoma/) [Oklahoma Refused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oklahoma-refused-5482445/) [Places](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/places/) [Refused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refused/) [Served](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/served/) [Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service/) [South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south/) [Spite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spite/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Told African](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told-african-3441301/) [Uniform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uniform/) [Were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/were/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) [While](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/while/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [“The general public typically traces the death of Jim Crow to Brown v. Board of Education, although the institution was showing signs of weakness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/the-general-public-typically-traces-the-death-of-jim-crow-to-brown-v/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [To put it simply, as a black man, I started watching films at the age of six, and I've since seen the bad guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/to-put-it-simply-as-a-black-man-i-started-watching-films-at-the-age/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [“Sometimes she thought that the people overseas had no room in their heart for Africa, because nobody had ever told them that African people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/sometimes-she-thought-that-the-people-overseas-had-no-room-in-their/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“Someone is pounding on a door within you and hoping for an answer. They want to tell us the secret tale of ourselves. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hawke/someone-is-pounding-on-a-door-within-you-and-hoping-for-an-answer/) [Christopher Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hawke/) > [I don't think there's enough breadth to the stories told about African-Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-s-fletcher/i-don-t-think-there-s-enough-breadth-to-the-stories-told-about/) [Geoffrey S. Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-s-fletcher/) > [I grew up in the Justice Department. I served 12 years as a line lawyer in the public integrity section. This department under me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-grew-up-in-the-justice-department-i-served-12-years-as-a-line/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [To be a world champion from Oklahoma is something that really pushes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johny-hendricks/to-be-a-world-champion-from-oklahoma-is-something-that-really-pushes/) [Johny Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johny-hendricks/) > [With the exception of my wife and children, there's nothing I value more than my Oklahoma heritage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-garner/with-the-exception-of-my-wife-and-children-there-s-nothing-i-value/) [James Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-garner/) > [I was born in Oklahoma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huda-kattan/i-was-born-in-oklahoma/) [Huda Kattan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huda-kattan/) > [I myself am consummately middle class. We grew up in upper-middle-class suburbs in Oklahoma City, and thats very much the same ethos as what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-bailey/i-myself-am-consummately-middle-class-we-grew-up-in-upper-middle/) [Blake Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-bailey/) > [You've got to quit judging people just because they have an 'R' or a 'D' in front of their name. We don't do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markwayne-mullin/you-ve-got-to-quit-judging-people-just-because-they-have-an-r-or-a-d/) [Markwayne Mullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markwayne-mullin/) > [I remember the early 1980s, when I first got one of these fabulous film critic jobs. The downside was sitting through 'Splatteria III: The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hunter/i-remember-the-early-1980s-when-i-first-got-one-of-these-fabulous/) [Stephen Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hunter/) > [You could have a hit in California that no one had heard of in Oklahoma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-jackson/you-could-have-a-hit-in-california-that-no-one-had-heard-of-in/) [Wanda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-jackson/) > [I didn't realize Oklahoma had so many fine women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metta-world-peace/i-didn-t-realize-oklahoma-had-so-many-fine-women/) [Metta World Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metta-world-peace/) > [I have family in Oklahoma City.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-shelton/i-have-family-in-oklahoma-city/) [Blake Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-shelton/) ## More by Eric Holder > [Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/though-this-nation-has-proudly-thought-of-itself-as-an-ethnic-melting/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [The full resources of the Department of Justice have been committed to the investigation into Michael Brown's death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/the-full-resources-of-the-department-of-justice-have-been-committed/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [Ferguson and St. Louis County are not the first places that we have become engaged to ensure fair and equitable policing, and they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/ferguson-and-st-louis-county-are-not-the-first-places-that-we-have/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [Some have argued that the President is required to get permission from a federal court before taking action against a United States citizen who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/some-have-argued-that-the-president-is-required-to-get-permission/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [I look forward to working with the NRA to come up with ways in which we can use common sense approaches to reduce the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-look-forward-to-working-with-the-nra-to-come-up-with-ways-in-which/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [This is going to be a very transparent Justice Department. But I'm not gonna sacrifice the safety of the American people or our ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/this-is-going-to-be-a-very-transparent-justice-department-but-i-m-not/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [I have loved the Department of Justice ever since, as a young boy, I watched Robert Kennedy prove during the Civil Rights Movement how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-have-loved-the-department-of-justice-ever-since-as-a-young-boy-i/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [You constantly hear about voter fraud... but you don't see huge amounts of vote fraud out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/you-constantly-hear-about-voter-fraud-but-you-don-t-see-huge-amounts/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [I'm a 21st-century guy, secure in who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-m-a-21st-century-guy-secure-in-who-i-am/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [I'll leave here with my head held high and with confidence that history will judge my time here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-ll-leave-here-with-my-head-held-high-and-with-confidence-that/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [On a personal level, I've seen a lot in my time as attorney general, but few things have affected me as greatly as my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/on-a-personal-level-i-ve-seen-a-lot-in-my-time-as-attorney-general/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [It is the thing that keeps me up at night - the notion that you have individuals in the United States who are looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/it-is-the-thing-that-keeps-me-up-at-night-the-notion-that-you-have/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [Guantanamo is a chief recruiting tool for al-Qaida. It has put a wedge between the United States and at least some of its allies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/guantanamo-is-a-chief-recruiting-tool-for-al-qaida-it-has-put-a-wedge/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [I don't have any intention of resigning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/i-don-t-have-any-intention-of-resigning/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) > [Michael Brown's tragic death has revealed a deep distrust between some in the Ferguson community and its police force. It also developed a need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/michael-brown-s-tragic-death-has-revealed-a-deep-distrust-between/) [Eric Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) [Explore all 91 Eric Holder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/) ## More African quotes > [We examine and highlight the history of the African descendants in America, and know that each and every one of us has come this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-clarke/we-examine-and-highlight-the-history-of-the-african-descendants-in/) [Yvette Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-clarke/) > [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/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Virtually all of Darfur's six million residents are Muslim, and, because of decades of intermarriage, almost everyone has dark skin and African features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/virtually-all-of-darfur-s-six-million-residents-are-muslim-and/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [I loved Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi. Its about a first-generation African family living in America that has to return home to Nigeria…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzo-aduba/i-loved-ghana-must-go-by-taiye-selasi-its-about-a-first-generation/) [Uzo Aduba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzo-aduba/) > [I was adopted my black Americans, I feel that I'm a 'Hybrid'. When I'm around Africans'I suddenly feel very black American. And when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kola-boof/i-was-adopted-my-black-americans-i-feel-that-i-m-a-hybrid-when-i-m/) [Kola Boof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kola-boof/) > [I concentrate on the southern African subcontinent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-dennis/i-concentrate-on-the-southern-african-subcontinent/) [Nigel Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-dennis/) > ['Yo I'm from Africa' Boy you're just a faker. Name one city: 'Uhh, Jamaica!' Wrong! And I think that's a shame, An African look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-sun/yo-i-m-from-africa-boy-you-re-just-a-faker-name-one-city-uhh-jamaica/) [King Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-sun/) > [I am of an African-Jamaican descent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-mitchell/i-am-of-an-african-jamaican-descent/) [Liz Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-mitchell/) > [When I was very little, I was into Michael Jackson. At six or seven, it was Madonna, but she's not what she used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/when-i-was-very-little-i-was-into-michael-jackson-at-six-or-seven-it/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [Football is a personal interest which has been turned into a philanthropic initiative directed at encouraging social cohesion during the difficult process of African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-hussein-al-amoudi/football-is-a-personal-interest-which-has-been-turned-into-a/) [Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-hussein-al-amoudi/) > [But we've all ended up giving body and soul to Africa, one way or another. Even Adah, who's becoming an expert in tropical epidemiology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/but-we-ve-all-ended-up-giving-body-and-soul-to-africa-one-way-or/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [African Queen' is pretty darn great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-eggers/african-queen-is-pretty-darn-great/) [Robert Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-eggers/) > [Most Americans know nothing about the African forest, and it seems to them a very scary, spooky dangerous place. I've spent a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-quammen/most-americans-know-nothing-about-the-african-forest-and-it-seems-to/) [David Quammen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-quammen/) [Browse all 576 African quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "While he was in the service, in the South and in Oklahoma, he was refused service at a couple of places where he was in uniform, and was told that African Americans, blacks, Negros, were not served. And in spite of that, I've never known a man who loved this country more than my father did.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Holder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/while-he-was-in-the-service-in-the-south-and-in-oklahoma-he-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "African" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/while-he-was-in-the-service-in-the-south-and-in-oklahoma-he-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/893/eric-holder-7429_african_while-he-was-in-the-service-in-the-south_3121572.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/893/eric-holder-7429_african_while-he-was-in-the-service-in-the-south_3121572.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/893/eric-holder-7429_african_while-he-was-in-the-service-in-the-south_3121572.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“While he was in the service, in the South and in Oklahoma, he was refused service at a couple of places…” — Eric Holder", "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": "Eric Holder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-holder/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "While he was in the service,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/while-he-was-in-the-service-in-the-south-and-in-oklahoma-he-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-holder/while-he-was-in-the-service-in-the-south-and-in-oklahoma-he-was/#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 } } ] } ```