--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have always felt my role was to do…" description: "\"I have always felt my role was to do anything I could to enable the powerless to speak. I want America to hear these voices because they are beautiful ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99c/jonathan-kozol-2747_always_i-have-always-felt-my-role-was-to-do-any_3034115.png" --- # I have always felt my role was to do anything I could to… ![“I have always felt my role was to do anything I could to enable the powerless to speak. I want America to hear these voices because they are beautiful voices.” quote by Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99c/jonathan-kozol-2747_always_i-have-always-felt-my-role-was-to-do-any_3034115.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99c/jonathan-kozol-2747_always_i-have-always-felt-my-role-was-to-do-any_3034115.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99c/jonathan-kozol-2747_always_i-have-always-felt-my-role-was-to-do-any_3034115.png) > “I have always felt my role was to do anything I could to enable the powerless to speak. I want America to hear these voices because they are beautiful voices.” [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates giving voice to marginalized people, seeing their stories as beautiful and essential. **In simple terms:** Empower the powerless to speak. Key Takeaway Listen to unheard voices. Themes social justice empowerment voice Mood empathetic inspirational Type advocacy humanitarian When to use this quote - education reform - public policy - media coverage Key Concepts inequality community activism Questions to Reflect On - How can you amplify marginalized voices? - What platforms can you use? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Powerless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerless/) ## Related quotes > [“Powerless to utter itself, powerless to speak, love nonetheless wants to proclaim itself, to exclaim, to write itself everywhere: all’acqua, all’ombra, ai monti, ai…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/powerless-to-utter-itself-powerless-to-speak-love-nonetheless-wants/) [Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/) > [Nothing hurts so much the interest and reputation of America as to hear of their intestine quarrels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-lafayette/nothing-hurts-so-much-the-interest-and-reputation-of-america-as-to/) [Marquis de Lafayette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-lafayette/) > [ Israel is extraordinary blessed to have \[Benjamin Netanyahu\] as prime minister at this pivotal time in history and so is the United States of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-dobbs/israel-is-extraordinary-blessed-to-have-benjamin-netanyahu-as-prime/) [Lou Dobbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-dobbs/) > [“If you travel internationally, you will feel shocked by contemptuous talk of America. To hear your fellow citizens characterized as barbarians who know nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-thayer-hamann/if-you-travel-internationally-you-will-feel-shocked-by-contemptuous/) [Hilary Thayer Hamann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-thayer-hamann/) > [I wanted so much to come to America and have America hear my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demis-roussos/i-wanted-so-much-to-come-to-america-and-have-america-hear-my-music/) [Demis Roussos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demis-roussos/) > [You have to get past the idea that music has to be one thing. To be alive in America is to hear all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/you-have-to-get-past-the-idea-that-music-has-to-be-one-thing-to-be/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [Folks, tomorrow America will get to hear those four words we've been waiting for: "Former president George Bush".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/folks-tomorrow-america-will-get-to-hear-those-four-words-we-ve-been/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [True story - I had index cards; I would write things on them and post them on the mirror in the bathroom. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/true-story-i-had-index-cards-i-would-write-things-on-them-and-post/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) > [“When people call up Rush Limbaugh and say, ‘It’s an honor to speak to you,’ I want to shoot myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-theroux/when-people-call-up-rush-limbaugh-and-say-it-s-an-honor-to-speak-to/) [Alexander Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-theroux/) > [“I can't talk you out of this?" he whispered, his eyes searching mine. "No." He swallowed and brushed back a hair from my forehead.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/i-can-t-talk-you-out-of-this-he-whispered-his-eyes-searching-mine-no/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [Let people speak anything they want, be yourself and do what makes you happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/let-people-speak-anything-they-want-be-yourself-and-do-what-makes-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Lord, may I think what you want me to think. May I desire what you want me to desire. May I speak as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-poveda-castroverde/lord-may-i-think-what-you-want-me-to-think-may-i-desire-what-you-want/) Pedro Poveda Castroverde > [As a human being, I do feel like it's my right to be able to stand up for and speak on whatever I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayesha-curry/as-a-human-being-i-do-feel-like-it-s-my-right-to-be-able-to-stand-up/) [Ayesha Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayesha-curry/) > [Only those who haven't got the wit to speak for themselves would ever want their clothes to do it for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/only-those-who-haven-t-got-the-wit-to-speak-for-themselves-would-ever/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [I can speak about me: I never want to be off the pitch; I never want to come off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-luiz/i-can-speak-about-me-i-never-want-to-be-off-the-pitch-i-never-want-to/) [David Luiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-luiz/) ## More by Jonathan Kozol > [Political struggle is the most important thing any of us can do as a citizen in a democracy; and that means the old joining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/political-struggle-is-the-most-important-thing-any-of-us-can-do-as-a/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [The future teachers I try to recruit are those show have refused to let themselves be neutered in this way, either in their private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/the-future-teachers-i-try-to-recruit-are-those-show-have-refused-to/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [Separate and unequal didn't work 100 years ago. It will not work today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/separate-and-unequal-didn-t-work-100-years-ago-it-will-not-work-today/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [“Unless we have the wealth to pay for private education, we are compelled by law to go to public school—and to the public school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/unless-we-have-the-wealth-to-pay-for-private-education-we-are/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [At present, black children are more segregated in their public schools than at any time since 1968. In the inner-city schools I visit, minority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/at-present-black-children-are-more-segregated-in-their-public-schools/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [“I want to correct something I told you once,' she says. 'You asked me once if I thought white people wish that Puerto Rican…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/i-want-to-correct-something-i-told-you-once-she-says-you-asked-me/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [Let's concede that we have decided to let our children grow up in two separate nations, and lead two separate kinds of lives. If,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/let-s-concede-that-we-have-decided-to-let-our-children-grow-up-in-two/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [When I was young, I was religious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/when-i-was-young-i-was-religious/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [Our political establishment refuses to use the word 'segregated.' They call the schools diverse, which means half black, half Hispanic, and maybe two white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/our-political-establishment-refuses-to-use-the-word-segregated-they/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > ['Savage Inequalities' was about school finance, and 'Amazing Grace' primarily dealt with medical and social injustices in New York. But with 'Ordinary Resurrections,' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/savage-inequalities-was-about-school-finance-and-amazing-grace/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [Discrimination is alive and soaring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/discrimination-is-alive-and-soaring/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [If you could lead through testing, the U.S. would lead the world in all education categories. When are people going to understand you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/if-you-could-lead-through-testing-the-u-s-would-lead-the-world-in-all/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [No Child Left Behind widens the gap between the races more than any piece of educational legislation I've seen in 40 years. It denies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/no-child-left-behind-widens-the-gap-between-the-races-more-than-any/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [An awful lot of people come to college with this strange idea that there's no longer segregation in America's schools, that our schools are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/an-awful-lot-of-people-come-to-college-with-this-strange-idea-that/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [The answers I remember longest are the ones that answer questions that I didn't think of asking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/the-answers-i-remember-longest-are-the-ones-that-answer-questions/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) [Explore all 151 Jonathan Kozol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have always felt my role was to do anything I could to enable the powerless to speak. 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