--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We picked their cotton. We cooked their…" description: "\"We picked their cotton. We cooked their food. We nursed their babies. Now we can run their cities. We can run their states. We will run the country.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/jesse-jackson-1161_american-politics_we-picked-their-cotton-we-cooked-their-f_90633.jpg" --- # We picked their cotton. We cooked their food. We nursed… ![“We picked their cotton. We cooked their food. We nursed their babies. Now we can run their cities. We can run their states. We will run the country.” quote by Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/jesse-jackson-1161_american-politics_we-picked-their-cotton-we-cooked-their-f_90633.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/jesse-jackson-1161_american-politics_we-picked-their-cotton-we-cooked-their-f_90633.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/jesse-jackson-1161_american-politics_we-picked-their-cotton-we-cooked-their-f_90633.jpg) > “We picked their cotton. We cooked their food. We nursed their babies. Now we can run their cities. We can run their states. We will run the country.” [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A rhetorical claim that historically marginalized groups now hold power, implying a reversal of oppression. **In simple terms:** Power shift narrative. Key Takeaway Beware of oversimplified power dynamics. Themes race political power historical injustice irony Mood irritation skepticism Type political provocative When to use this quote - political speeches - activist rallies - academic debates Key Concepts social hierarchy colonial legacy Practical Applications - critical analysis - historical education Questions to Reflect On - What evidence contradicts this claim? - How does this framing affect marginalized voices? A Different Perspective The statement glosses over ongoing systemic inequities and can be used to dismiss current struggles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-politics/) [Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Cotton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cotton/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Food Nursed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food-nursed-1127740/) [Nursed Babies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nursed-babies-1127736/) [Picked Cotton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picked-cotton-1127738/) [Run States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/run-states-1127733/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [States Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states-run-1127734/) ## Related quotes > [My father was raised in the mountains of New Mexico, and he picked cotton for a dollar a day. He was working for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/my-father-was-raised-in-the-mountains-of-new-mexico-and-he-picked/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [Hands that picked cotton can now pick the mayor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-evers/hands-that-picked-cotton-can-now-pick-the-mayor/) [Charles Evers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-evers/) > [I grew up hard. I picked cotton and plowed with the mule and fixed the cars and played with the guitar and the piano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pinetop-perkins/i-grew-up-hard-i-picked-cotton-and-plowed-with-the-mule-and-fixed-the/) [Pinetop Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pinetop-perkins/) > [The blacks have their parties, hustle a little liquor, get some things together, and I used to play for those peoples. They'd come get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/the-blacks-have-their-parties-hustle-a-little-liquor-get-some-things/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [I don't do much recording anymore, but before I really stopped, I was glad to get five, five cent a record. That's why when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/i-don-t-do-much-recording-anymore-but-before-i-really-stopped-i-was/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [When I had a baby, I didn't leave the second floor for six months. I nursed my babies. I was a full-time homemaker. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-schlafly/when-i-had-a-baby-i-didn-t-leave-the-second-floor-for-six-months-i/) [Phyllis Schlafly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-schlafly/) > [My grandmother, who picked cotton, and my mom, who picked cotton as a child - my grandmother had a work ethic. She had 13…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-grayson/my-grandmother-who-picked-cotton-and-my-mom-who-picked-cotton-as-a/) [Derrick Grayson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-grayson/) > [“I feel like cotton candy: sugar and air. Squeeze me and I’d turn into a small sickly damp wad of weeping pinky-red. “I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-feel-like-cotton-candy-sugar-and-air-squeeze-me-and-i-d-turn-into-a/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [The peace we seek, founded upon decent trust and cooperation among nations, can be fortified not by weapons of war but by wheat and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/the-peace-we-seek-founded-upon-decent-trust-and-cooperation-among/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [It will be hard James but you come from sturdy peasant stock men who picked cotton and dammed rivers and built railroads and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-will-be-hard-james-but-you-come-from-sturdy-peasant-stock-men-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have visited sweatshops, factories, and crowded slums. If I could not see it, I could smell it. The foundation of society is laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-have-visited-sweatshops-factories-and-crowded-slums-if-i-could-not/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [ \[Tom Cotton\] has been an absolute champion of the idea of getting rid of Obamacare, scrapping the Affordable Care Act. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/tom-cotton-has-been-an-absolute-champion-of-the-idea-of-getting-rid/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [Summer time an' the livin' is easy, Fish are jumpin' an' the cotton is high. Oh, yo' daddy's rich, and yo' ma' is good-lookin',…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-gershwin/summer-time-an-the-livin-is-easy-fish-are-jumpin-an-the-cotton-is/) [Ira Gershwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-gershwin/) > [ Senator \[Tom\] Cotton has campaigned on wanting to kill Obamacare. He voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act back in January, but he now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/senator-tom-cotton-has-campaigned-on-wanting-to-kill-obamacare-he/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [My problems are sort of more on a nuisance level. I can't stand scratchy clothes, I've got to have soft kinds of cotton against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/my-problems-are-sort-of-more-on-a-nuisance-level-i-can-t-stand/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) ## More by Jesse Jackson > [If my mind can conceive it ,and my heart can believe it,i known I can achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/if-my-mind-can-conceive-it-and-my-heart-can-believe-it-i-known-i-can/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [We reveal our joys and successes, we conceal our pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-reveal-our-joys-and-successes-we-conceal-our-pain/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [We blacks were the first people embracing Obama, long before the people at expensive fundraisers were supporting him. We gave him his first love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-blacks-were-the-first-people-embracing-obama-long-before-the/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [The coffers are full of money and equipment for the Ferguson Police and the Missouri National Guard to put down a potential uprising, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-coffers-are-full-of-money-and-equipment-for-the-ferguson-police/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Many are observing Ferguson and witnessing the anger, demonstrations, looting and vandalism and calling for quiet. But quiet isn't enough. The absence of noise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/many-are-observing-ferguson-and-witnessing-the-anger-demonstrations/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [What's good for the very rich might not be good for anybody but them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/what-s-good-for-the-very-rich-might-not-be-good-for-anybody-but-them/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Those who have the most wealth and the most property, their children have the first, the best, and the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/those-who-have-the-most-wealth-and-the-most-property-their-children/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Most blacks will argue that they excel because of hard work, because of intellect, determination, sweat, blood, tears and risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/most-blacks-will-argue-that-they-excel-because-of-hard-work-because/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Pictures can live in one's memory. That's why they are important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/pictures-can-live-in-one-s-memory-that-s-why-they-are-important/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [A check or credit card, a Gucci bag strap, anything of value will do. Give as you live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/a-check-or-credit-card-a-gucci-bag-strap-anything-of-value-will-do/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [When they wrote the Constitution, only white male landowners had the right to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/when-they-wrote-the-constitution-only-white-male-landowners-had-the/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [I'm too mature to be angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/i-m-too-mature-to-be-angry/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [There are clear patterns of discrimination against Blacks and Latinos. The big banks targeted Blacks and Latinos with toxic packages of subprime predatory lending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/there-are-clear-patterns-of-discrimination-against-blacks-and-latinos/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Few would deny that blacks have become very dominant in athletics: football, basketball, track, now dominant in tennis and dominant in golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/few-would-deny-that-blacks-have-become-very-dominant-in-athletics/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [His foreparents came to America in immigrant ships. My foreparents came to America in slave ships. But whatever the original ships, we are both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/his-foreparents-came-to-america-in-immigrant-ships-my-foreparents/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) [Explore all 281 Jesse Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) ## More American politics quotes > [Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has taken American politics by storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hannity/republican-presidential-candidate-donald-trump-has-taken-american/) [Sean Hannity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hannity/) > [Here's the point - and Jonah Goldberg reminds us of this. He wrote a blog post that was titled "The MacGuffinization of American Politics."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/here-s-the-point-and-jonah-goldberg-reminds-us-of-this-he-wrote-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Hart is still like that little tub of vaguely milklike gunk that comes with airline coffee. It is labeled a "nondairy" product. Fine: we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/hart-is-still-like-that-little-tub-of-vaguely-milklike-gunk-that/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [The only thing we have to fear is fear itself-and possibly teh bogey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-paulsen/the-only-thing-we-have-to-fear-is-fear-itself-and-possibly-teh-bogey/) [Pat Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-paulsen/) > [Would anyone else like to say anything nice about women?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/would-anyone-else-like-to-say-anything-nice-about-women/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [We are creating a political demolition derby, not a presidential debate. Those strange impulses in the American soul that have produced mud wrestling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-sidey/we-are-creating-a-political-demolition-derby-not-a-presidential/) [Hugh Sidey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-sidey/) > [For even the most seasoned observers of American politics, Barack Obama is a phenomenon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/for-even-the-most-seasoned-observers-of-american-politics-barack/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [“The CIA is behind it all. That’s the conclusion of Mae Brussell—one of America’s foremost assassination experts—a researcher who has collected every pertinent newspaper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-brussell/the-cia-is-behind-it-all-that-s-the-conclusion-of-mae-brussell-one-of/) [Mae Brussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-brussell/) > [You know, compromise can't be a dirty word in American politics. There's plenty to argue about. Trump administration is still talking about ridiculous tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/you-know-compromise-can-t-be-a-dirty-word-in-american-politics-there/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [In his study of Atlanta over the last 60 years, Kevin Kruse convincingly describes the critical connections between race, Sun Belt suburbanization, the rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-carter/in-his-study-of-atlanta-over-the-last-60-years-kevin-kruse/) [Dan Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-carter/) > [Affirming belief that America is an exceptional nation has become a test of patriotism in American politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/affirming-belief-that-america-is-an-exceptional-nation-has-become-a/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [ \[Ronald\] Reagan had an agenda, three agenda items. George W. Bush had some. But \[Donald\] Trump, because people weren't listening, Trump has the longest… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/ronald-reagan-had-an-agenda-three-agenda-items-george-w-bush-had-some/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The good news is that the president gets another chance. The bad news is that he'll be two weeks older.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/the-good-news-is-that-the-president-gets-another-chance-the-bad-news/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [You can never underestimate the ability of the Democrats to wet their finger and hold it in the wind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-can-never-underestimate-the-ability-of-the-democrats-to-wet-their/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It seems to me there are good deficits and bad deficits. Now, we have a deficit that comes from the militarization of our society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-seems-to-me-there-are-good-deficits-and-bad-deficits-now-we-have-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 412 American politics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-politics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We picked their cotton. We cooked their food. We nursed their babies. Now we can run their cities. We can run their states. 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