--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that N.W.A. picked up where Bobby…" description: "\"I think that N.W.A. picked up where Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King would have gone if they hadn't been assassinated.\" — Jerry Heller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d4/jerry-heller-20738_bobby-kennedy_i-think-that-n-w-a-picked-up-where-bobby_2232116.jpg" --- # I think that N.W.A. picked up where Bobby Kennedy and… ![“I think that N.W.A. picked up where Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King would have gone if they hadn't been assassinated.” quote by Jerry Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d4/jerry-heller-20738_bobby-kennedy_i-think-that-n-w-a-picked-up-where-bobby_2232116.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d4/jerry-heller-20738_bobby-kennedy_i-think-that-n-w-a-picked-up-where-bobby_2232116.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d4/jerry-heller-20738_bobby-kennedy_i-think-that-n-w-a-picked-up-where-bobby_2232116.jpg) > “I think that N.W.A. picked up where Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King would have gone if they hadn't been assassinated.” [Jerry Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He suggests N.W.A. continued the social activism that civil‑rights leaders would have pursued had they lived. **In simple terms:** N.W.A. carried forward civil‑rights ideas. Key Takeaway Recognize music’s power to shape social change. Themes activism music social change legacy Mood reflective critical Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - community organizing - youth outreach - media analysis Key Concepts cultural commentary political expression Questions to Reflect On - How can artists responsibly address social issues? - What limits exist for music as activism? A Different Perspective Music may oversimplify complex politics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assassinated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assassinated/) [Bobby kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bobby-kennedy/) [Gone Hadn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone-hadn-1023254/) [Hadn Assassinated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hadn-assassinated-5025968/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [King Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king-gone-2649747/) [Martin luther king](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/martin-luther-king/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) ## Related quotes > [The king is gone but he's not forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/the-king-is-gone-but-he-s-not-forgotten/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [“I’d gone without once before—it hadn’t been the worst thing in the world, and it would have probably passed into actively okay if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-hall/i-d-gone-without-once-before-it-hadn-t-been-the-worst-thing-in-the/) [Alexis Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-hall/) > [We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-all-remember-bobby-kennedy-was-assassinated-in-june-in-california/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I remember the day Richard Nixon won in 1968. That was a time that seemed certain to bring about long awaited seismic change in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-schiff/i-remember-the-day-richard-nixon-won-in-1968-that-was-a-time-that/) [Richard Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-schiff/) > [We don't really know who killed Martin Luther King. We don't really know who killed Bobby Kennedy. We don't really know who killed John…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-mckinney/we-don-t-really-know-who-killed-martin-luther-king-we-don-t-really/) [Cynthia McKinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-mckinney/) > [“Bobby Kennedy gave Cheasty a job with the committee at a salary of $5,000 a year. The FBI planted microphones and set up cameras.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/bobby-kennedy-gave-cheasty-a-job-with-the-committee-at-a-salary-of-5/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“When a reporter asked Bobby Kennedy what he would do if Hoffa were acquitted, Bobby Kennedy, who said he had “never considered that possibility”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/when-a-reporter-asked-bobby-kennedy-what-he-would-do-if-hoffa-were/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [Bobby Kennedy's conduct toward Lyndon Johnson was childish and despicable. As the years went on, he displayed nasty, self-pitying, and messianic qualities that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mallon/bobby-kennedy-s-conduct-toward-lyndon-johnson-was-childish-and/) [Thomas Mallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mallon/) > [I just find Bobby Kennedy's short campaign for president so inspiring because his rhetoric identified what America can be like if we care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ryan/i-just-find-bobby-kennedy-s-short-campaign-for-president-so-inspiring/) [Tim Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ryan/) > [I think that for many of us, the years of the Civil Rights movements - Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy running for president in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-think-that-for-many-of-us-the-years-of-the-civil-rights-movements/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [I came at age in the '60s, and initially my hopes and dreams were invested in politics and the movements of the time -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-talbot/i-came-at-age-in-the-60s-and-initially-my-hopes-and-dreams-were/) [David Talbot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-talbot/) > [“Bobby Kennedy chose the members of the squad himself. He gave the squad a very limited job to do and gave the squad a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/bobby-kennedy-chose-the-members-of-the-squad-himself-he-gave-the/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Later that same year John F. Kennedy was elected president by a thin margin. The first thing he did was appoint his brother attorney…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/later-that-same-year-john-f-kennedy-was-elected-president-by-a-thin/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [You cultural sodomite. You were an aide to Bobby Kennedy, which explains your connection to Hasselhoff. I guess you like to hang around guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/you-cultural-sodomite-you-were-an-aide-to-bobby-kennedy-which/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) > [My first presidential primary vote was for Bobby Kennedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gunton/my-first-presidential-primary-vote-was-for-bobby-kennedy/) [Bob Gunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gunton/) ## More by Jerry Heller > [N.W.A had something in common with the Rolling Stones and MC5 and groups like that: the voice of rebellion. It's rebellion against your parents.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/n-w-a-had-something-in-common-with-the-rolling-stones-and-mc5-and/) [Jerry Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/) > [I'm the boogeyman used to scare South Central kids when they tell ghost stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/i-m-the-boogeyman-used-to-scare-south-central-kids-when-they-tell/) [Jerry Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/) > [I just loved Amy Winehouse. I would rather have managed her than anybody in the world. To me, it was like the first time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/i-just-loved-amy-winehouse-i-would-rather-have-managed-her-than/) [Jerry Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/) > [I don't want to be judged next to guys like Suge Knight. I want to be measured next to David Geffen, Irving Azoff, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/i-don-t-want-to-be-judged-next-to-guys-like-suge-knight-i-want-to-be/) [Jerry Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/) > [I am what I am, but I'm not a thief. And I'm not scandalous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/i-am-what-i-am-but-i-m-not-a-thief-and-i-m-not-scandalous/) [Jerry Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/) > [I grew up in that era of Hendrix and Joplin and The Doors, and the Summer of Love and Haight-Ashbury, and even the Panthers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/i-grew-up-in-that-era-of-hendrix-and-joplin-and-the-doors-and-the/) [Jerry Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/) > [Gangsta rap was the most important movement since the beginning of rock n' roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/gangsta-rap-was-the-most-important-movement-since-the-beginning-of/) [Jerry Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/) > [My dad wasn't a gangster, and he wasn't a criminal, but he sure liked to rub padded shoulders with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/my-dad-wasn-t-a-gangster-and-he-wasn-t-a-criminal-but-he-sure-liked/) [Jerry Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/) > [There are two kinds of people in the entertainment industry: Those that close deals and those that don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-in-the-entertainment-industry-those/) [Jerry Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/) > [The problem of the Panthers is that they scared people. The music of N.W.A didn't scare people; it taught people what it was like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/the-problem-of-the-panthers-is-that-they-scared-people-the-music-of-n/) [Jerry Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/) > [“But shitty human beings sometimes make great art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/but-shitty-human-beings-sometimes-make-great-art/) [Jerry Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/) > [“Ghetto denizens are supposed to stay put. That’s what the ghetto is for. Straight Outta Compton was a jailbreak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/ghetto-denizens-are-supposed-to-stay-put-that-s-what-the-ghetto-is/) [Jerry Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/) > [One thing that N.W.A did, as Larry Flynt did before them, was to expand the boundaries of our reliance upon the good sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/one-thing-that-n-w-a-did-as-larry-flynt-did-before-them-was-to-expand/) [Jerry Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/) > [I consider the most important period of my life, from March 3rd, 1987, I think it was, to March 26th, 1995: the day I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/i-consider-the-most-important-period-of-my-life-from-march-3rd-1987-i/) [Jerry Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/) > [N.W.A. were the first great rap audio documentarians of the problems in our inner cities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/n-w-a-were-the-first-great-rap-audio-documentarians-of-the-problems/) [Jerry Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/) [Explore all 30 Jerry Heller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/) ## More Bobby kennedy quotes > [My first presidential primary vote was for Bobby Kennedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gunton/my-first-presidential-primary-vote-was-for-bobby-kennedy/) [Bob Gunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gunton/) > [You cultural sodomite. You were an aide to Bobby Kennedy, which explains your connection to Hasselhoff. I guess you like to hang around guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/you-cultural-sodomite-you-were-an-aide-to-bobby-kennedy-which/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) > [“Later that same year John F. Kennedy was elected president by a thin margin. The first thing he did was appoint his brother attorney…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/later-that-same-year-john-f-kennedy-was-elected-president-by-a-thin/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [“Bobby Kennedy chose the members of the squad himself. He gave the squad a very limited job to do and gave the squad a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/bobby-kennedy-chose-the-members-of-the-squad-himself-he-gave-the/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [I came at age in the '60s, and initially my hopes and dreams were invested in politics and the movements of the time -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-talbot/i-came-at-age-in-the-60s-and-initially-my-hopes-and-dreams-were/) [David Talbot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-talbot/) > [I think that for many of us, the years of the Civil Rights movements - Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy running for president in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-think-that-for-many-of-us-the-years-of-the-civil-rights-movements/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [I just find Bobby Kennedy's short campaign for president so inspiring because his rhetoric identified what America can be like if we care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ryan/i-just-find-bobby-kennedy-s-short-campaign-for-president-so-inspiring/) [Tim Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ryan/) > [Bobby Kennedy's conduct toward Lyndon Johnson was childish and despicable. As the years went on, he displayed nasty, self-pitying, and messianic qualities that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mallon/bobby-kennedy-s-conduct-toward-lyndon-johnson-was-childish-and/) [Thomas Mallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mallon/) > [We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-all-remember-bobby-kennedy-was-assassinated-in-june-in-california/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“When a reporter asked Bobby Kennedy what he would do if Hoffa were acquitted, Bobby Kennedy, who said he had “never considered that possibility”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/when-a-reporter-asked-bobby-kennedy-what-he-would-do-if-hoffa-were/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [We don't really know who killed Martin Luther King. We don't really know who killed Bobby Kennedy. We don't really know who killed John…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-mckinney/we-don-t-really-know-who-killed-martin-luther-king-we-don-t-really/) [Cynthia McKinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-mckinney/) > [“Bobby Kennedy gave Cheasty a job with the committee at a salary of $5,000 a year. The FBI planted microphones and set up cameras.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/bobby-kennedy-gave-cheasty-a-job-with-the-committee-at-a-salary-of-5/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [ I was next to Bobby \[Kennedy\] when he was shot. It was hideous. Part of me wanted to crawl away. I couldn't... I still… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-benson/i-was-next-to-bobby-kennedy-when-he-was-shot-it-was-hideous-part-of/) [Harry Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-benson/) > [When people ask what were the qualities of Bobby Kennedy that they most admired, it was first that he was tough. Second, he told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilio-estevez/when-people-ask-what-were-the-qualities-of-bobby-kennedy-that-they/) [Emilio Estevez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilio-estevez/) > [I had my serious side - I idolized Bobby Kennedy; he was my role model. But so was Jerry Lewis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ritter/i-had-my-serious-side-i-idolized-bobby-kennedy-he-was-my-role-model/) [John Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ritter/) [Browse all 59 Bobby kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bobby-kennedy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that N.W.A. picked up where Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King would have gone if they hadn't been assassinated.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jerry Heller" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/i-think-that-n-w-a-picked-up-where-bobby-kennedy-and-martin-luther/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bobby kennedy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/i-think-that-n-w-a-picked-up-where-bobby-kennedy-and-martin-luther/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d4/jerry-heller-20738_bobby-kennedy_i-think-that-n-w-a-picked-up-where-bobby_2232116.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d4/jerry-heller-20738_bobby-kennedy_i-think-that-n-w-a-picked-up-where-bobby_2232116.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d4/jerry-heller-20738_bobby-kennedy_i-think-that-n-w-a-picked-up-where-bobby_2232116.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think that N.W.A. picked up where Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King would have gone if they hadn't been…” — Jerry Heller", "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": "Jerry Heller", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-heller/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think that N.W.A. picked up...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/i-think-that-n-w-a-picked-up-where-bobby-kennedy-and-martin-luther/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-heller/i-think-that-n-w-a-picked-up-where-bobby-kennedy-and-martin-luther/#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 } } ] } ```