--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 'Blacks were too scared to do anything…" description: "\"'Blacks were too scared to do anything, but they came out to greet James Meredith': That would have been the story in the evening news if I hadn't gott..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/james-meredith-18433_evening_blacks-were-too-scared-to-do-anything-bu_562374.png" --- # 'Blacks were too scared to do anything, but they came out… ![“'Blacks were too scared to do anything, but they came out to greet James Meredith': That would have been the story in the evening news if I hadn't gotten myself shot. I got shot, and that allowed the movement protest thing to take over then and do their thing.” quote by James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/james-meredith-18433_evening_blacks-were-too-scared-to-do-anything-bu_562374.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/james-meredith-18433_evening_blacks-were-too-scared-to-do-anything-bu_562374.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/james-meredith-18433_evening_blacks-were-too-scared-to-do-anything-bu_562374.png) > “'Blacks were too scared to do anything, but they came out to greet James Meredith': That would have been the story in the evening news if I hadn't gotten myself shot. I got shot, and that allowed the movement protest thing to take over then and do their thing.” [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) ## 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 reflects how personal trauma can catalyze broader social activism, turning individual suffering into collective momentum. **In simple terms:** Personal pain can spark larger movements. Key Takeaway Channel personal setbacks into collective action. Themes civil rights activism trauma collective action Mood determined reflective Type historical motivational When to use this quote - protest organization - community mobilization - media coverage - personal recovery Key Concepts social change catalyst resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can personal adversity be transformed into societal progress? - What responsibilities arise when one's trauma becomes a rallying point? A Different Perspective May overlook the agency of those already involved in the movement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evening/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) ## Related quotes > [I am thankful for the strong, united response of our university community to the desecration of the James Meredith statue last year, confirming our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/i-am-thankful-for-the-strong-united-response-of-our-university/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [In fact, James Meredith who was once the icon of the civil rights movement. He supported me for governor!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/in-fact-james-meredith-who-was-once-the-icon-of-the-civil-rights/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [Had it not been for James Meredith, who was willing to risk his life, the University of Mississippi would still be all white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/had-it-not-been-for-james-meredith-who-was-willing-to-risk-his-life/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) > [If you're dumb enough to volunteer for the army, I don't see why we're supposed to feel so bad when you get shot. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/if-you-re-dumb-enough-to-volunteer-for-the-army-i-don-t-see-why-we-re/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [“This is the second fucking time I've gotten shot when I was with you. I don't think we can be friends anymore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-norris/this-is-the-second-fucking-time-i-ve-gotten-shot-when-i-was-with-you/) [Elizabeth Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-norris/) > [“I must apologize, it seems I've gone and gotten myself shot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-in-miss-peregrine-s-home-for-peculiar-children-by-ransom-riggs/i-must-apologize-it-seems-i-ve-gone-and-gotten-myself-shot/) Millard in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs > [“I must apologize,” he said. “It seems I’ve gone and gotten myself shot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/i-must-apologize-he-said-it-seems-i-ve-gone-and-gotten-myself-shot/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) > [I don't think we were shy so much as we were terrified. Especially when we did 'Saturday Night Live' on live TV. We looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-pierson/i-don-t-think-we-were-shy-so-much-as-we-were-terrified-especially/) [Kate Pierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-pierson/) > [It's just the vibe I got when I landed in New Orleans. The culture is absolutely different. It's so dangerous, I tell you, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrann-mathieu/it-s-just-the-vibe-i-got-when-i-landed-in-new-orleans-the-culture-is/) [Tyrann Mathieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrann-mathieu/) > [Fuck you playing games for? Don't be scared get everything you came for. They got you talking that big shit. Little do you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pusha-t/fuck-you-playing-games-for-don-t-be-scared-get-everything-you-came/) [Pusha T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pusha-t/) > [I was a bit scared because I came from the acting world. There was a fear that people would think of me kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-kramer/i-was-a-bit-scared-because-i-came-from-the-acting-world-there-was-a/) [Jana Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-kramer/) > [I went out in my yard and saw a snake, so I got really scared, and I came back inside to get a shovel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-viracola/i-went-out-in-my-yard-and-saw-a-snake-so-i-got-really-scared-and-i/) Charlie Viracola > [“A man only got one shot at declaring himself to his true love; he didn't want to muck it up completely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/a-man-only-got-one-shot-at-declaring-himself-to-his-true-love-he-didn/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [I just spent 11 and a half months in a maximum-security jail, got shot five times, and was wrongly convicted of a crime I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/i-just-spent-11-and-a-half-months-in-a-maximum-security-jail-got-shot/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [“I got shot saving you. That should speak very clearly about my feelings. After all, I'll bear the scars of loving you for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shayla-black/i-got-shot-saving-you-that-should-speak-very-clearly-about-my/) [Shayla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shayla-black/) ## More by James Meredith > [My momma was slick as greased lightning. She knew how to get anybody and everybody to do whatever she wanted 'em to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/my-momma-was-slick-as-greased-lightning-she-knew-how-to-get-anybody/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [Nothing has been more detrimental to me than to be considered a symbol, because I never stood for any of that... The civil rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/nothing-has-been-more-detrimental-to-me-than-to-be-considered-a/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [There are a million Negroes in Mississippi. I think theyll take care of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/there-are-a-million-negroes-in-mississippi-i-think-theyll-take-care/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [I had developed a specifically calculated plan to break the system of white supremacy. My theory was that since Mississippi was the place, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/i-had-developed-a-specifically-calculated-plan-to-break-the-system-of/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [I am thankful for the strong, united response of our university community to the desecration of the James Meredith statue last year, confirming our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/i-am-thankful-for-the-strong-united-response-of-our-university/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [Only whites were allowed by law and practice to attend the University of Mississippi - a public institution supported by public dollars. Anything public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/only-whites-were-allowed-by-law-and-practice-to-attend-the-university/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [The day for the Negro man being a coward is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/the-day-for-the-negro-man-being-a-coward-is-over/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [The real problem in Mississippi is almost a complete moral breakdown. In order to move Mississippi from the bottom to the top, all we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/the-real-problem-in-mississippi-is-almost-a-complete-moral-breakdown/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [If black people use their resources properly, they can become as competitive as any group in society - take control of our neighborhoods, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/if-black-people-use-their-resources-properly-they-can-become-as/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [Walk Against Fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/walk-against-fear/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [You gotta understand, the state of Mississippi was in rebellion. It had rebelled against the United States...Now that has been a very difficult story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/you-gotta-understand-the-state-of-mississippi-was-in-rebellion-it-had/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [I was taught to believe that the most dishonorable thing a Meredith could do was work in a white woman's kitchen and take care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/i-was-taught-to-believe-that-the-most-dishonorable-thing-a-meredith/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [There are a million Negroes in Mississippi. I think they'll take care of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/there-are-a-million-negroes-in-mississippi-i-think-they-ll-take-care/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [Nothing is a bigger waste of time than regretting the past and worrying about the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/nothing-is-a-bigger-waste-of-time-than-regretting-the-past-and/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) > [When it comes to my rights as an American citizen, and yours, I am a triumphalist and an absolutist. Anything less is an insult,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/when-it-comes-to-my-rights-as-an-american-citizen-and-yours-i-am-a/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) [Explore all 35 James Meredith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) ## More Evening quotes > [Once ye made up yer mind to do somethin', 'tis better t'stumble o'er the small hillock of jump-ahead than t'bash yer head on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/once-ye-made-up-yer-mind-to-do-somethin-tis-better-t-stumble-o-er-the/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [The evening's the best part of the day. You've done your day's work. Now you can put your feet up and enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/the-evening-s-the-best-part-of-the-day-you-ve-done-your-day-s-work/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [Like the water of a deep stream, love is always too much. We did not make it. Though we drink till we burst, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/like-the-water-of-a-deep-stream-love-is-always-too-much-we-did-not/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The sun, a red wheel, was sinking slowly in the west. Besides being spectacularly beautiful, the early-summer sunset was exceedingly soft and gentle: black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-yan/the-sun-a-red-wheel-was-sinking-slowly-in-the-west-besides-being/) [Mo Yan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-yan/) > [It is easy enough to say that man is immortal simply because he will endure: that when the last ding-dong of doom has clanged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-is-easy-enough-to-say-that-man-is-immortal-simply-because-he-will/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [By the time they were pulling into the parking lot of the A&P, the mood was fading, the moment gone. Amy could feel it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/by-the-time-they-were-pulling-into-the-parking-lot-of-the-a-p-the/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [When I was very young my mother sang to me at bedtime and my dad would often play the banjo or fiddle in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-block/when-i-was-very-young-my-mother-sang-to-me-at-bedtime-and-my-dad/) Rory Block > [So great is the economy of nature, that most flowers which are fertilised by crepuscular or nocturnal insects emit their odour chiefly or exclusively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/so-great-is-the-economy-of-nature-that-most-flowers-which-are/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [I don’t know, I don’t know that I’m missing anything. I just think too much sometimes. Sometimes I’m even happy because I’m so engaged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-buckley/i-don-t-know-i-don-t-know-that-i-m-missing-anything-i-just-think-too/) [Jeff Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-buckley/) > [What truly gives me joy is when I get a letter from a young woman who says they saw a programme, then read a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-worsley/what-truly-gives-me-joy-is-when-i-get-a-letter-from-a-young-woman-who/) [Lucy Worsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-worsley/) > [...nothing wonderful lasted forever. Joy was as fleeting as a shooting star that crossed the evening sky, ready to blink out at any moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/nothing-wonderful-lasted-forever-joy-was-as-fleeting-as-a-shooting/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I do a lot of writing in my capacity as the creative director for a marketing agency. These days, though, I'm trying to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-doescher/i-do-a-lot-of-writing-in-my-capacity-as-the-creative-director-for-a/) [Ian Doescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-doescher/) > [Tonight I have inundated you with the mystical kundalini. Now, of course, I'm moving into the supra-conscious; it's kind of a doubleheader this evening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/tonight-i-have-inundated-you-with-the-mystical-kundalini-now-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Can You see that as soon as the day breaks I think of You? As evening comes, I am near You. I am near…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-galgani/can-you-see-that-as-soon-as-the-day-breaks-i-think-of-you-as-evening/) [Gemma Galgani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-galgani/) [Browse all 1,949 Evening quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evening/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "'Blacks were too scared to do anything, but they came out to greet James Meredith': That would have been the story in the evening news if I hadn't gotten myself shot. 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