--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When growing up, I saw segregation. I saw…" description: "\"When growing up, I saw segregation. I saw racial discrimination. I saw those signs that said white men, colored men. White women, colored women. White ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/john-lewis-1310_racial-discriminatio_when-growing-up-i-saw-segregation-i-saw_1166236.jpg" --- # When growing up, I saw segregation. I saw racial… ![“When growing up, I saw segregation. I saw racial discrimination. I saw those signs that said white men, colored men. White women, colored women. White waiting. And I didn't like it. I would ask my mother and ask my parents over and over again, why? They said, that's the way it is. Don't get in the…” quote by John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/john-lewis-1310_racial-discriminatio_when-growing-up-i-saw-segregation-i-saw_1166236.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/john-lewis-1310_racial-discriminatio_when-growing-up-i-saw-segregation-i-saw_1166236.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/397/john-lewis-1310_racial-discriminatio_when-growing-up-i-saw-segregation-i-saw_1166236.jpg) > “When growing up, I saw segregation. I saw racial discrimination. I saw those signs that said white men, colored men. White women, colored women. White waiting. And I didn't like it. I would ask my mother and ask my parents over and over again, why? They said, that's the way it is. Don't get in the way, don't get in trouble. I was so inspired by Rosa Parks in 1955. I was 15 years old. I was inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr. I heard his words on all radio. It seemed like he was saying to me, John Lewis, you too can make a contribution.” [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 recounts early experiences of segregation, feeling injustice, and being inspired by civil‑rights leaders to believe personal agency can effect change. **In simple terms:** Seeing racism, feeling inspired by leaders, believing one can contribute. Key Takeaway Believe you can act despite oppression. Themes civil rights injustice inspiration agency activism Mood determined hopeful Type historical motivational When to use this quote - school - community activism - public speaking - media influence Key Concepts racial segregation personal agency social change Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn personal outrage into constructive action? - What role does mentorship play in activism? A Different Perspective Change often faces entrenched systemic resistance and personal risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Racial discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racial-discrimination/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Segregation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/segregation/) ## Related quotes > [On March 7, 1965, some 600 civil rights activists marched in Selma, Alabama, demanding an end to racial discrimination. The demonstration was led by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/on-march-7-1965-some-600-civil-rights-activists-marched-in-selma/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [When I was 15 years old in 1955, I heard of Rosa Parks. I heard the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. on our radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/when-i-was-15-years-old-in-1955-i-heard-of-rosa-parks-i-heard-the/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [I heard of Martin Luther King Jr. when I was 15 years old. I heard of Rosa Parks. And I met Dr. King in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-heard-of-martin-luther-king-jr-when-i-was-15-years-old-i-heard-of/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [ I met Rosa Parks when I was 17. I met Dr. \[Martin Luther\] King when I was 18. These two individuals inspired me to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/i-met-rosa-parks-when-i-was-17-i-met-dr-martin-luther-king-when-i-was/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [When growing up, I saw segregation. I saw racial discrimination. I saw those signs that said white men, colored men. White women, colored women.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/when-growing-up-i-saw-segregation-i-saw-racial-discrimination-i-saw-2/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [The civil rights movement was based on faith. Many of us who were participants in this movement saw our involvement as an extension of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/the-civil-rights-movement-was-based-on-faith-many-of-us-who-were/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [MLK, Jr. taught me how to say no to segregation, and I can hear him saying now... when you straighten up your back, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/mlk-jr-taught-me-how-to-say-no-to-segregation-and-i-can-hear-him/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [My parents told me in the very beginning as a young child when I raised the question about segregation and racial discrimination, they told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/my-parents-told-me-in-the-very-beginning-as-a-young-child-when-i-2/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [My parents told me in the very beginning as a young child when I raised the question about segregation and racial discrimination, they told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/my-parents-told-me-in-the-very-beginning-as-a-young-child-when-i/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [“The trouble with being inspired to perform the impossible was that the inspiration gave you no clues to the practical means.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/the-trouble-with-being-inspired-to-perform-the-impossible-was-that/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“Some former Bush officials, however, believed that the Justice Department's failure to pursue the New Black Panther Party case resulted from top Obama administration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-bernstein/some-former-bush-officials-however-believed-that-the-justice/) [David E. 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Obama's running so we all can fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/rosa-parks-sat-so-martin-luther-king-could-walk-martin-luther-king/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Young people think Rosa Parks just sat down on a bus and ended segregation, but that wasn't the case at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudette-colvin/young-people-think-rosa-parks-just-sat-down-on-a-bus-and-ended/) [Claudette Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudette-colvin/) ## 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. 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