--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For many young people growing up in…" description: "\"For many young people growing up in minority communities, there is a sense that their lives are disposable. As athletes, we have a platform to let thos..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/jason-collins-4195_matter_for-many-young-people-growing-up-in-mino_265496.png" --- # For many young people growing up in minority communities… ![“For many young people growing up in minority communities, there is a sense that their lives are disposable. As athletes, we have a platform to let those kids know that their lives are important. That their lives matter to us.” quote by Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/jason-collins-4195_matter_for-many-young-people-growing-up-in-mino_265496.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/jason-collins-4195_matter_for-many-young-people-growing-up-in-mino_265496.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/jason-collins-4195_matter_for-many-young-people-growing-up-in-mino_265496.png) > “For many young people growing up in minority communities, there is a sense that their lives are disposable. As athletes, we have a platform to let those kids know that their lives are important. That their lives matter to us.” [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Minority youth often feel undervalued; athletes can use visibility to affirm their worth. **In simple terms:** Athletes can show minority youth they matter. Key Takeaway Use your platform to affirm and uplift. Themes social justice mentorship self‑esteem community empowerment Mood hopeful inspirational Type motivational activist When to use this quote - school assemblies - sports clinics - community events Key Concepts visibility platform leverage psychological safety Questions to Reflect On - How can you sustain support beyond moments? - What structures can amplify this message? A Different Perspective Impact may be limited without systemic change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [Mental health is always somethin' that's really tough to talk about. But I'm glad that, you know, athletes that are on a platform can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/mental-health-is-always-somethin-that-s-really-tough-to-talk-about/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [All lives matter when black lives matter and no lives are more important than black lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-woodson/all-lives-matter-when-black-lives-matter-and-no-lives-are-more/) [Charles Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-woodson/) > [No one likes to be treated like people in minority communities. What it's saying is that because you're poor, because you live in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/no-one-likes-to-be-treated-like-people-in-minority-communities-what/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [There is no doubt that Stop-and-Frisk does not yield the desired results, and it is apparent that it disproportionately targets minority communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-clarke/there-is-no-doubt-that-stop-and-frisk-does-not-yield-the-desired/) [Yvette Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-clarke/) > [As a city, we have to face the reality that New York's minority communities experience a disproportionate share of violent crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-kelly/as-a-city-we-have-to-face-the-reality-that-new-york-s-minority/) [Raymond Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-kelly/) > [I've spent my entire adult life encouraging minority communities to get involved in mainstream society, civic society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/i-ve-spent-my-entire-adult-life-encouraging-minority-communities-to/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [In minority communities there's a sensitivity, often a knee-jerk reaction, to critical representations. There's a misunderstanding of what an artist does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/in-minority-communities-there-s-a-sensitivity-often-a-knee-jerk/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Though you'd never know it from reading the academic literature, some people in minority communities even see prison as potentially positive for individuals as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-mac-donald/though-you-d-never-know-it-from-reading-the-academic-literature-some/) [Heather Mac Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-mac-donald/) > [In today's Britain, the weakest among us are often assumed to be minority communities. In fact, the weakest are those minorities-within-minorities for whom the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/in-today-s-britain-the-weakest-among-us-are-often-assumed-to-be/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > ['Educate, don't hate.' That's my motto. The reason why there's so much pushback against diversity and against minority communities is because people are afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/educate-don-t-hate-that-s-my-motto-the-reason-why-there-s-so-much/) [Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/) > [“All of our lives are important, even the parts of our past that we have ignored, downplayed, or forgotten. If we open the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-j-martin/all-of-our-lives-are-important-even-the-parts-of-our-past-that-we/) [James J. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-j-martin/) > [I believe our lives are important when we learn something and love. I really want to capture the meaning of experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-smyles/i-believe-our-lives-are-important-when-we-learn-something-and-love-i/) [Iris Smyles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-smyles/) > [American Lives Are Not More Important Than Other People's Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-avakian/american-lives-are-not-more-important-than-other-people-s-lives/) [Bob Avakian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-avakian/) > [I've always been interested in how other people live their lives, which is why it's important to engage fully even in painful times. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-adlon/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-how-other-people-live-their-lives/) [Pamela Adlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-adlon/) > [I have said it somewhere - our literary lived lives are as important as our literally lived lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-have-said-it-somewhere-our-literary-lived-lives-are-as-important-as/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) ## More by Jason Collins > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [The most you can do is stand up for what you believe in. I'm much happier since coming out to my friends and family.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/the-most-you-can-do-is-stand-up-for-what-you-believe-in-i-m-much/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [It's my job to go out there and do my job and be ready when my name and number is called, regardless of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/it-s-my-job-to-go-out-there-and-do-my-job-and-be-ready-when-my-name/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [Anytime you lose a lot of weight you're going to feel lighter on your feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/anytime-you-lose-a-lot-of-weight-you-re-going-to-feel-lighter-on-your/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I have had a moment where, well actually a couple moments, where people in the realm of sports have confided in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-have-had-a-moment-where-well-actually-a-couple-moments-where-people/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [The best part of when you reveal your authentic self publicly is that it will allow those people around you, whether it's your teammates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/the-best-part-of-when-you-reveal-your-authentic-self-publicly-is-that/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [As all professional athletes know, Father Time is undefeated, and when I wake up in the morning, my back especially lets me know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/as-all-professional-athletes-know-father-time-is-undefeated-and-when/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I am in love with the creator of heaven and earth. I see the morning sun and thank the Lord for everything that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-am-in-love-with-the-creator-of-heaven-and-earth-i-see-the-morning/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [The NBA is like a brotherhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/the-nba-is-like-a-brotherhood/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I've met many people who have come up to me and told me how my story has impacted them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-ve-met-many-people-who-have-come-up-to-me-and-told-me-how-my-story/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [So, I got asked in January of 2014 to attend the State of the Union and sit as a guest in the first lady's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/so-i-got-asked-in-january-of-2014-to-attend-the-state-of-the-union/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [There's only so many times you can write the story about the gay teammate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/there-s-only-so-many-times-you-can-write-the-story-about-the-gay/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it's a good place to start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/openness-may-not-completely-disarm-prejudice-but-it-s-a-good-place-to/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I knew that I was choosing the road less traveled but I'm not walking it alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-knew-that-i-was-choosing-the-road-less-traveled-but-i-m-not-walking/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [For me it always starts with the core. I've learned that the stronger that your core is, the better you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/for-me-it-always-starts-with-the-core-i-ve-learned-that-the-stronger/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) [Explore all 114 Jason Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) ## More Matter quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [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/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [No matter what I do I'll always be stuck on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-stalin/no-matter-what-i-do-i-ll-always-be-stuck-on-you/) [J Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-stalin/) > [You need to remind people that you vote, you matter, and that they can't succeed without your help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-need-to-remind-people-that-you-vote-you-matter-and-that-they-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [We released 400,000 classified documents, the most extraordinary history of a war to ever have been released in our civilization. Those documents cover 109,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/we-released-400-000-classified-documents-the-most-extraordinary/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [I think everyone will agree that it doesn't matter how we get to an international tournament. We are going to do whatever it takes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcginn/i-think-everyone-will-agree-that-it-doesn-t-matter-how-we-get-to-an/) [John McGinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcginn/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. This is the fun, the glory, the pleasure. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/the-work-the-work-the-work-this-is-what-the-business-is-all-about/) [Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/) Browse all 23,868 Matter quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For many young people growing up in minority communities, there is a sense that their lives are disposable. As athletes, we have a platform to let those kids know that their lives are important. That their lives matter to us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jason Collins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/for-many-young-people-growing-up-in-minority-communities-there-is-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Matter" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/for-many-young-people-growing-up-in-minority-communities-there-is-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/jason-collins-4195_matter_for-many-young-people-growing-up-in-mino_265496.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/jason-collins-4195_matter_for-many-young-people-growing-up-in-mino_265496.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bd/jason-collins-4195_matter_for-many-young-people-growing-up-in-mino_265496.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For many young people growing up in minority communities, there is a sense that their lives are disposable…” — Jason Collins", "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": "Jason Collins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For many young people growing up...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/for-many-young-people-growing-up-in-minority-communities-there-is-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/for-many-young-people-growing-up-in-minority-communities-there-is-a/#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 } } ] } ```