--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When that devil's bullet lodged itself…" description: "\"When that devil's bullet lodged itself inside the body of Martin Luther King, he had already begun an astonishing mobilization of poor, Black, white, l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/june-jordan-5050_action_when-that-devil-s-bullet-lodged-itself-i_2779203.png" --- # When that devil's bullet lodged itself inside the body of… ![“When that devil's bullet lodged itself inside the body of Martin Luther King, he had already begun an astonishing mobilization of poor, Black, white, latino Americans who had nothing to lose. They would challenge our government to eliminate exploitative, merciless, and war-mongering policies…” quote by June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/june-jordan-5050_action_when-that-devil-s-bullet-lodged-itself-i_2779203.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/june-jordan-5050_action_when-that-devil-s-bullet-lodged-itself-i_2779203.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/june-jordan-5050_action_when-that-devil-s-bullet-lodged-itself-i_2779203.png) > “When that devil's bullet lodged itself inside the body of Martin Luther King, he had already begun an astonishing mobilization of poor, Black, white, latino Americans who had nothing to lose. They would challenge our government to eliminate exploitative, merciless, and war-mongering policies, nationwide, or else "tie up the country" through "means of civil disobedience." Dr. King intended to organize those legions into "coercive direct actions" that would make of Babylon a dysfunctional behemoth begging for relief. Is it any wonder he was killed?” [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes how King’s activism mobilized diverse groups against oppressive policies, using civil disobedience as a tool. **In simple terms:** King’s activism united varied peoples against oppression. Key Takeaway Use collective action to challenge injustice. Themes activism solidarity civil disobedience political change Mood passionate urgent Type historical political When to use this quote - protests - community organizing - policy reform - grassroots campaigns Key Concepts social movements racial justice Questions to Reflect On - What strategies sustain non‑violent resistance? - How can diverse groups maintain unity? A Different Perspective Violent backlash can undermine movements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Astonishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astonishing/) [Babylon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/babylon/) [Begging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begging/) [Behemoth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behemoth/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black white](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-white/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Bullets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bullets/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Civil disobedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-disobedience/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Direct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct/) [Direct action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct-action/) [Disobedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disobedience/) [Disobedience Dr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disobedience-dr-3296346/) [Drs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drs/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Killed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killed/) [King Intended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king-intended-3296345/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Latino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latino/) [Legion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legion/) [Loses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loses/) [Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luther/) [Luther King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luther-king-322524/) [Martin luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/martin-luther/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Mobilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mobilization/) [Nothing to lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing-to-lose/) [Organize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organize/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Relief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relief/) [Ties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ties/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [I rarely ever put my head above the rampart and see where this big lumbering behemoth called 'global literature' is going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/i-rarely-ever-put-my-head-above-the-rampart-and-see-where-this-big/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [Governance is complex, difficult, and on the whole, thankless - why ever should the Bright Young Things leave the management of their hotels, newspapers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upamanyu-chatterjee/governance-is-complex-difficult-and-on-the-whole-thankless-why-ever/) [Upamanyu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upamanyu-chatterjee/) > [The late '60s and the '70s, a lot of this really beautiful equipment was being made and installed into studios around the world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/the-late-60s-and-the-70s-a-lot-of-this-really-beautiful-equipment-was/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [You're not Dostoevsky,' said the citizeness, who was getting muddled by Koroviev. Well, who knows, who knows,' he replied. 'Dostoevsky's dead,' said the citizeness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/you-re-not-dostoevsky-said-the-citizeness-who-was-getting-muddled-by/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“I was the chief of security on this civilian behemoth. Yes, that’s right – I used a big word – try not to faint.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/i-was-the-chief-of-security-on-this-civilian-behemoth-yes-that-s/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) > [Logic is immaturity weaving its nets of gossamer wherewith it aims to catch the behemoth of knowledge. Logic is a crutch for the cripple,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-naimy/logic-is-immaturity-weaving-its-nets-of-gossamer-wherewith-it-aims-to/) [Mikhail Naimy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-naimy/) > [This is the way addled liberals really think. Even as they champion sucking the brains out of little babies, they think of themselves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/this-is-the-way-addled-liberals-really-think-even-as-they-champion/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Out of the sea will rise Behemoth and Leviathan, and sail 'round the high-pooped galleys... Dragons will wander about the waste places, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/out-of-the-sea-will-rise-behemoth-and-leviathan-and-sail-round-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [f the government is going to put money into the automobile sector, it should break up GM and Chrysler as a condition of financial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/f-the-government-is-going-to-put-money-into-the-automobile-sector-it/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [ A different \[Ronald\] Reagan-era authority: EO 12333, an executive order for foreign-intelligence collection, as opposed to the ones we now use domestically. So this… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/a-different-ronald-reagan-era-authority-eo-12333-an-executive-order/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [The turn of the century was the age of the banker, so much so that the leading bankers of the day had become legendary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/the-turn-of-the-century-was-the-age-of-the-banker-so-much-so-that-the/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [We've got crazy little sites going up against established media behemoths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/we-ve-got-crazy-little-sites-going-up-against-established-media/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [America has an interesting global role, don't we? It certainly seems to be changing. Our government right now has a softer hand than we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-courier/america-has-an-interesting-global-role-don-t-we-it-certainly-seems-to/) [Jim Courier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-courier/) > [We can't defend Japan, a behemoth, selling us cars by the million.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-can-t-defend-japan-a-behemoth-selling-us-cars-by-the-million/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The part of Stripe that I've always found most interesting is the idea of facilitating new commerce that wouldn't otherwise happen. Payouts is turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/the-part-of-stripe-that-i-ve-always-found-most-interesting-is-the/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) ## More by June Jordan > [But, based on my friendship with Evie as young mothers, I started going on freedom rides in 1966.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/but-based-on-my-friendship-with-evie-as-young-mothers-i-started-going/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [I am working never to be late again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/i-am-working-never-to-be-late-again/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [To tell the truth is to become beautiful, to begin to love yourself, value yourself. And that's political, in its most profound way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/to-tell-the-truth-is-to-become-beautiful-to-begin-to-love-yourself/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [In America, you can segregate the people, but the problems will travel. From slavery to equal rights, from state suppression of dissent to crime,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/in-america-you-can-segregate-the-people-but-the-problems-will-travel/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [We survive our love because we go on loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/we-survive-our-love-because-we-go-on-loving/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [Americans have begun to understand that trouble does not start somewhere on the other side of town. It seems to originate inside the absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/americans-have-begun-to-understand-that-trouble-does-not-start/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [The United States Supreme Court, once a reliable if ultimate recourse for progressive and even revolutionary grievances, has become a retrograde wellspring for enormous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/the-united-states-supreme-court-once-a-reliable-if-ultimate-recourse/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [My father was very intense, passionate and over-the-top. He was my hero and my tyrant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/my-father-was-very-intense-passionate-and-over-the-top-he-was-my-hero/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [The purpose of polite behavior is never virtuous. Deceit, surrender, and concealment these are not virtues. The goal of the mannerly is comfort, per…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/the-purpose-of-polite-behavior-is-never-virtuous-deceit-surrender-and/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [“the motivation behind every sentence is the wish to say something real to somebody real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/the-motivation-behind-every-sentence-is-the-wish-to-say-something/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [Bisexuality means I am free and I am as likely to want to love a woman as I am likely to want to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/bisexuality-means-i-am-free-and-i-am-as-likely-to-want-to-love-a/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [“...love without being destroyed...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/love-without-being-destroyed/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [Body and soul, Black America reveals the extreme questions of contemporary life, questions of freedom and identity: How can I be who I am?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/body-and-soul-black-america-reveals-the-extreme-questions-of/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [South Africa used to seem so far away. Then it came home to me. It began to signify the meaning of white hatred here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/south-africa-used-to-seem-so-far-away-then-it-came-home-to-me-it/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [The thing about genius is it will never yield to circumstances. Genius regards what's given as the beginning of its need to find or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/the-thing-about-genius-is-it-will-never-yield-to-circumstances-genius/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) [Explore all 104 June Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [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/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When that devil's bullet lodged itself inside the body of Martin Luther King, he had already begun an astonishing mobilization of poor, Black, white, latino Americans who had nothing to lose. They would challenge our government to eliminate exploitative, merciless, and war-mongering policies, nationwide, or else \"tie up the country\" through \"means of civil disobedience.\" Dr. King intended to organize those legions into \"coercive direct actions\" that would make of Babylon a dysfunctional behemoth begging for relief. Is it any wonder he was killed?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "June Jordan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/when-that-devil-s-bullet-lodged-itself-inside-the-body-of-martin/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/when-that-devil-s-bullet-lodged-itself-inside-the-body-of-martin/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/june-jordan-5050_action_when-that-devil-s-bullet-lodged-itself-i_2779203.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/june-jordan-5050_action_when-that-devil-s-bullet-lodged-itself-i_2779203.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/june-jordan-5050_action_when-that-devil-s-bullet-lodged-itself-i_2779203.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When that devil's bullet lodged itself inside the body of Martin Luther King, he had already begun an…” — June Jordan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "June Jordan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When that devil's bullet lodged itself...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/when-that-devil-s-bullet-lodged-itself-inside-the-body-of-martin/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/when-that-devil-s-bullet-lodged-itself-inside-the-body-of-martin/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```