--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a young child, it became crystal clear…" description: "\"As a young child, it became crystal clear to me that there were certain rights and privileges that other people had that my mother, my father, my grand..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/john-lewis-1310_children_as-a-young-child-it-became-crystal-clear_221994.jpg" --- # As a young child, it became crystal clear to me that there… ![“As a young child, it became crystal clear to me that there were certain rights and privileges that other people had that my mother, my father, my grandparents, my great grandparents didn't have - that it was an ongoing struggle to realize the dream of the 14th and 15th Amendment.” quote by John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/john-lewis-1310_children_as-a-young-child-it-became-crystal-clear_221994.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/john-lewis-1310_children_as-a-young-child-it-became-crystal-clear_221994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd8/john-lewis-1310_children_as-a-young-child-it-became-crystal-clear_221994.jpg) > “As a young child, it became crystal clear to me that there were certain rights and privileges that other people had that my mother, my father, my grandparents, my great grandparents didn't have - that it was an ongoing struggle to realize the dream of the 14th and 15th Amendment.” [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) ## 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 reflects on historical injustices and the ongoing struggle for civil rights, emphasizing the importance of recognizing past inequities to achieve true equality. **In simple terms:** Historical injustice and the fight for civil rights. Key Takeaway Acknowledge past injustices to pursue equality. Themes civil rights justice history activism Mood determined hopeful reflective Type historical activist When to use this quote - education reform - policy advocacy - community organizing Key Concepts social equality constitutional law intergenerational trauma Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure past struggles inform current policies? - What actions today honor the legacy of the 14th and 15th Amendments? A Different Perspective Recognition of systemic oppression can be incomplete. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Grandparent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandparent/) [Great grandparents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-grandparents/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) ## Related quotes > [“Four Millions of people heretofore declared by the highest tribunal in the land, not citizens of the United States, nor eligible to become so,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/four-millions-of-people-heretofore-declared-by-the-highest-tribunal/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) > [In 2004, there were more black men disenfranchised than in 1870 - the year the 15th Amendment was ratified, prohibiting laws that deny the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/in-2004-there-were-more-black-men-disenfranchised-than-in-1870-the/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [It makes me so angry when people say, "We never hear from people who are happy doing sex work." Well, that's because they're working.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-gira-grant/it-makes-me-so-angry-when-people-say-we-never-hear-from-people-who/) [Melissa Gira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-gira-grant/) > [“The best thing that ever happened to you might be your new job, spouse, awards, etc, but I tell you that being granted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-you-might-be-your-new-job-spouse/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Freedom in America was not always flat. Racism made it un-flat, so that some people had privileges over other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/freedom-in-america-was-not-always-flat-racism-made-it-un-flat-so-that/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [Nations, like individuals in a state of nature, are equal and independent, possessing certain rights and owing certain duties to each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millard-fillmore/nations-like-individuals-in-a-state-of-nature-are-equal-and/) [Millard Fillmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millard-fillmore/) > [When the Constitution declares that 'all men are created equal,' it is not referring to intelligence, good looks, good humor, height, weight, or income.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/when-the-constitution-declares-that-all-men-are-created-equal-it-is/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [Wanted or unwanted, I believe that human life, even at its earliest stages, has certain rights which must be recognized – the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/wanted-or-unwanted-i-believe-that-human-life-even-at-its-earliest/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [I agree, and a lot of people even within my own party want to give certain rights to people on watch lists and no-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-agree-and-a-lot-of-people-even-within-my-own-party-want-to-give/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I am not putting a check on anyone. I just have to say that India's Constitution has given certain rights and freedom to people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-adityanath/i-am-not-putting-a-check-on-anyone-i-just-have-to-say-that-india-s/) [Yogi Adityanath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-adityanath/) > [“The question is simply this: Can a negro, whose ancestors were imported into this country, and sold as slaves, become a member of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-c-guelzo/the-question-is-simply-this-can-a-negro-whose-ancestors-were-imported/) [Allen C. Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [What men value in this world is not rights but privileges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/what-men-value-in-this-world-is-not-rights-but-privileges/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“We live in a world where rights and privileges frequently get confused. Often, people think they have a “right to be happy” or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-morin/we-live-in-a-world-where-rights-and-privileges-frequently-get/) [Amy Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-morin/) > [Women will be no longer made the slaves of, or dependent upon men...They will be equal in education, rights, privileges and personal liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/women-will-be-no-longer-made-the-slaves-of-or-dependent-upon-men-they/) [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) > [I think that, as Americans, we should never forget that when we tamper with freedom of speech, it is a very sensitive issue that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/i-think-that-as-americans-we-should-never-forget-that-when-we-tamper/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) ## More by John Lewis > [ I happen to believe that this election year \[2016\] is...one of the most important elections that we're going to face in a very long… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-happen-to-believe-that-this-election-year-2016-is-one-of-the-most/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [If you're not hopeful and optimistic, then you just give up. You have to take that long hard look and just believe that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/if-you-re-not-hopeful-and-optimistic-then-you-just-give-up-you-have/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [The reward for playing jazz is playing jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/the-reward-for-playing-jazz-is-playing-jazz/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [I am very, very hopeful about the American South - I believe that we will lead America to what Dr. King called 'the beloved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-am-very-very-hopeful-about-the-american-south-i-believe-that-we/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [ \[Donald Trump's inauguration\] will be the first one that I miss since I've been in Congress. You cannot be at home with something that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/donald-trump-s-inauguration-will-be-the-first-one-that-i-miss-since-i/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [To question the legitimacy of the next United States president, you know, and you're worried about a tweet that says, hey, why don't you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/to-question-the-legitimacy-of-the-next-united-states-president-you/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [We are tired of being beaten by policemen. We are tired of seeing our people locked up in jails over and over again. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/we-are-tired-of-being-beaten-by-policemen-we-are-tired-of-seeing-our/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [Now we have black and white elected officials working together. Today, we have gone beyond just passing laws. Now we have to create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/now-we-have-black-and-white-elected-officials-working-together-today/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [“For me, the nomination of Barack Obama as a candidate for president and his inauguration in Washington represents a brief glimpse at the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/for-me-the-nomination-of-barack-obama-as-a-candidate-for-president/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [Too many people struggled, suffered, and died to make it possible for every American to exercise their right to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/too-many-people-struggled-suffered-and-died-to-make-it-possible-for/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [The vote is precious. It's almost sacred, so go out and vote like you never voted before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/the-vote-is-precious-it-s-almost-sacred-so-go-out-and-vote-like-you/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [My position is very, very simple. That I fought too long and too hard against discrimination based on race and color, not to stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/my-position-is-very-very-simple-that-i-fought-too-long-and-too-hard/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [Many of us in Nashville accepted nonviolence as a way of life, a way of living, not simply as a technique or a tactic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/many-of-us-in-nashville-accepted-nonviolence-as-a-way-of-life-a-way/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [Right now, what my job is - pardon me? Those are just words. Right now, what my - my job is right now going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/right-now-what-my-job-is-pardon-me-those-are-just-words-right-now/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [ Donald Trump has made it clear that certainly over the last few years that President \[Barack\] Obama was born in Hawaii. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/donald-trump-has-made-it-clear-that-certainly-over-the-last-few-years/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) [Explore all 258 John Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. 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