--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always been interested in history…" description: "\"I've always been interested in history, but they never taught Negro history in the public schools...I don't see how a history of the United States can ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/jacob-lawrence-42624_artist_i-ve-always-been-interested-in-history-b_212404.jpg" --- # I've always been interested in history, but they never… ![“I've always been interested in history, but they never taught Negro history in the public schools...I don't see how a history of the United States can be written honestly without including the Negro. I didn't [paint] just as a historical thing, but because I believe these things tie up with the…” quote by Jacob Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/jacob-lawrence-42624_artist_i-ve-always-been-interested-in-history-b_212404.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/jacob-lawrence-42624_artist_i-ve-always-been-interested-in-history-b_212404.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/jacob-lawrence-42624_artist_i-ve-always-been-interested-in-history-b_212404.jpg) > “I've always been interested in history, but they never taught Negro history in the public schools...I don't see how a history of the United States can be written honestly without including the Negro. I didn't \[paint\] just as a historical thing, but because I believe these things tie up with the Negro today. We don't have a physical slavery, but an economic slavery. If these people, who were so much worse off than the people today, could conquer their slavery, we can certainly do the same thing…I am not a politician. I'm an artist, just trying to do my part to bring this thing about.” [Jacob Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-lawrence/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that true American history must include Black experiences, linking past slavery to present economic oppression and urging artistic activism. **In simple terms:** American history must include Black experiences and address ongoing economic oppression. Key Takeaway Include Black narratives to reveal systemic issues. Themes history race art activism Mood determined hopeful Type activist reflective When to use this quote - education reform - public art projects - community workshops - policy advocacy Key Concepts systemic oppression historical truth artistic responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can art effectively highlight systemic injustice? - What steps can educators take to integrate Black history? A Different Perspective Neglecting other perspectives can oversimplify complex history. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politician/) [Public school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-school/) [Public schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-schools/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Ties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ties/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [“I wept for my children and all black children who have been denied a knowledge of their heritage; I wept for all white children,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/i-wept-for-my-children-and-all-black-children-who-have-been-denied-a/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife, -- this longing to attain self-conscious manhood, to merge his double self…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-history-of-the-american-negro-is-the-history-of-this-strife-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We should emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-g-woodson-2/we-should-emphasize-not-negro-history-but-the-negro-in-history-what/) Carter G Woodson > [We should emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-g-woodson/we-should-emphasize-not-negro-history-but-the-negro-in-history-what-2/) [Carter G. Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-g-woodson/) > [“After the Egyptian and Indian, the Greek and Roman, the Teuton and Mongolian, the Negro is a sort of seventh son, born with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-dubois/after-the-egyptian-and-indian-the-greek-and-roman-the-teuton-and/) [W.E.B. 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Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-mass-of-mankind-has-not-been-born-with-saddles-on-their-backs-nor/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“but until we fix the government policies that breed poverty, we have condemned the poor, black, white, and brown to a life of economic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-coonts/but-until-we-fix-the-government-policies-that-breed-poverty-we-have/) [Stephen Coonts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-coonts/) > [History has a long-range perspective. It ultimately passes stern judgment on tyrants and vindicates those who fought, suffered, were imprisoned, and died for human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gurley-flynn/history-has-a-long-range-perspective-it-ultimately-passes-stern/) [Elizabeth Gurley Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gurley-flynn/) > [We in Africa are always on the receiving end. We have had human slavery, political slavery, economic slavery and now religious slavery. We in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-akinola/we-in-africa-are-always-on-the-receiving-end-we-have-had-human/) [Peter Akinola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-akinola/) > [Man's inhumanity to man is not the last word. The truth lies deeper. It is economic slavery, the savage struggle for a crumb, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-berkman/man-s-inhumanity-to-man-is-not-the-last-word-the-truth-lies-deeper-it/) [Alexander Berkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-berkman/) > [Formerly when a man worked ten hours a day, it was called economic slavery; nowadays it is called moonlighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/formerly-when-a-man-worked-ten-hours-a-day-it-was-called-economic/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Marylanders have led the nation in adopting a balanced approach to revenues and investments because we know that in order to maintain and build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-malley/marylanders-have-led-the-nation-in-adopting-a-balanced-approach-to/) [Martin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-malley/) > [“Our schools will not improve if we continue to focus only on reading and mathematics while ignoring the other studies that are essential elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ravitch/our-schools-will-not-improve-if-we-continue-to-focus-only-on-reading/) [Diane Ravitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ravitch/) ## More by Jacob Lawrence > [All artists are constantly looking for something and they don't always know what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-lawrence/all-artists-are-constantly-looking-for-something-and-they-don-t/) [Jacob Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-lawrence/) > [You bring to a painting your own experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-lawrence/you-bring-to-a-painting-your-own-experience/) [Jacob Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-lawrence/) > [My belief is that it is most important for an artist to develop an approach and philosophy about life - if he has developed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-lawrence/my-belief-is-that-it-is-most-important-for-an-artist-to-develop-an/) [Jacob Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-lawrence/) > [This is my genre...the happiness, tragedies, and the sorrows of mankind as realized in the teeming black ghetto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-lawrence/this-is-my-genre-the-happiness-tragedies-and-the-sorrows-of-mankind/) [Jacob Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-lawrence/) > [I would describe my work as expressionist. The expressionist point of view is stressing your own feelings about something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-lawrence/i-would-describe-my-work-as-expressionist-the-expressionist-point-of/) [Jacob Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-lawrence/) > [If at times my productions do not express the conventionally beautiful, there is always an effort to express the universal beauty of man's continuous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-lawrence/if-at-times-my-productions-do-not-express-the-conventionally/) [Jacob Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-lawrence/) > [Humanism" is to be human, to think, to analyze, and to probe. To respond and to be stimulated by all living things - beasts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-lawrence/humanism-is-to-be-human-to-think-to-analyze-and-to-probe-to-respond/) [Jacob Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-lawrence/) > [The Human subject is the most important thing. My work is abstract in the sense of having been designed and composed, but it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-lawrence/the-human-subject-is-the-most-important-thing-my-work-is-abstract-in/) [Jacob Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-lawrence/) > [I have an assuredness of myself. I never protect myself against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-lawrence/i-have-an-assuredness-of-myself-i-never-protect-myself-against-it/) [Jacob Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-lawrence/) [Explore all 10 Jacob Lawrence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-lawrence/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always been interested in history, but they never taught Negro history in the public schools...I don't see how a history of the United States can be written honestly without including the Negro. I didn't [paint] just as a historical thing, but because I believe these things tie up with the Negro today. We don't have a physical slavery, but an economic slavery. If these people, who were so much worse off than the people today, could conquer their slavery, we can certainly do the same thing…I am not a politician. 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