--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are still forces in America that…" description: "\"There are still forces in America that want to divide us along racial lines, religious lines, sex, class. But we've come too far; we've made too much p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/john-lewis-1310_america_there-are-still-forces-in-america-that-w_287853.jpg" --- # There are still forces in America that want to divide us… ![“There are still forces in America that want to divide us along racial lines, religious lines, sex, class. But we've come too far; we've made too much progress to stop or to pull back. We must go forward. And I believe we will get there.” quote by John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/john-lewis-1310_america_there-are-still-forces-in-america-that-w_287853.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/john-lewis-1310_america_there-are-still-forces-in-america-that-w_287853.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/john-lewis-1310_america_there-are-still-forces-in-america-that-w_287853.jpg) > “There are still forces in America that want to divide us along racial lines, religious lines, sex, class. But we've come too far; we've made too much progress to stop or to pull back. We must go forward. And I believe we will get there.” [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. He acknowledges lingering divisive forces but emphasizes progress and forward momentum. **In simple terms:** America still faces division but has made progress. Key Takeaway Continue advancing unity and equality. Themes civil rights progress unity division Mood hopeful determined Type activism inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - community organizing - education reform - public discourse Key Concepts social justice historical change collective action Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to foster unity? - How can past progress inspire future action? A Different Perspective Progress can be uneven; setbacks may arise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) ## Related quotes > [But it all came, and for me, hip-hop has done more for racial divide and racial sort of bringing together than anything in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rapaport/but-it-all-came-and-for-me-hip-hop-has-done-more-for-racial-divide/) [Michael Rapaport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rapaport/) > [Our strength as a nation comes in our unity. We are the United States of America, not the divided states. And those who want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/our-strength-as-a-nation-comes-in-our-unity-we-are-the-united-states/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [For a while... to be an evangelical meant you were a white Republican, and you were against this and against that. I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/for-a-while-to-be-an-evangelical-meant-you-were-a-white-republican/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [We must be able to identify those who want divide our movement, and say, 'Not in our name.' We need to choose leaders that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-ramaphosa/we-must-be-able-to-identify-those-who-want-divide-our-movement-and/) [Cyril Ramaphosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-ramaphosa/) > [I want to pave the way for little girls and little boys who look like me. That's not to draw any racial lines or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-want-to-pave-the-way-for-little-girls-and-little-boys-who-look-like/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [It's very important for me to have dialogues across racial lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/it-s-very-important-for-me-to-have-dialogues-across-racial-lines/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [Nobody thought in racial lines. At least, not in our neighborhoods. Everybody looked out for everybody else. Each mother took it upon herself to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/nobody-thought-in-racial-lines-at-least-not-in-our-neighborhoods/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [“This kid was writing saying that they were breaking down some of the racial lines in their towns and communities, because their break dance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-holman/this-kid-was-writing-saying-that-they-were-breaking-down-some-of-the/) Michael Holman > [“and subordinate groups are defined along ethnic and/or racial lines, and where the relationship is established and maintained to serve the interests”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-pericles-trifonas/and-subordinate-groups-are-defined-along-ethnic-and-or-racial-lines/) Peter Pericles Trifonas > [To me, what socialism means is to guarantee a basic level of dignity. It's asserting the value of saying that the America we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/to-me-what-socialism-means-is-to-guarantee-a-basic-level-of-dignity/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [America has everything, why should they want us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/america-has-everything-why-should-they-want-us/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [There's one America that Barack Obama wants, and there's a very different America that I want. I want an America that is entrepreneurial, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-d-souza/there-s-one-america-that-barack-obama-wants-and-there-s-a-very/) [Dinesh D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-d-souza/) > [Every time we do something you tell me America will do this and will do that . . . I want to tell you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/every-time-we-do-something-you-tell-me-america-will-do-this-and-will/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [I don't hate America. I love America. I want it to be better. The only way we can get it to be better is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-don-t-hate-america-i-love-america-i-want-it-to-be-better-the-only/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) ## 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 America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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