--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had never run a campaign, but I was an…" description: "\"“I had never run a campaign, but I was an organizer. My job was to create momentum by mobilizing the constituency we had, which I was positioned to do...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/junius-williams-28191_black-history_i-had-never-run-a-campaign-but-i-was-an_2537711.jpg" --- # I had never run a campaign, but I was an organizer. My job… ![“I had never run a campaign, but I was an organizer. My job was to create momentum by mobilizing the constituency we had, which I was positioned to do.” quote by Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/junius-williams-28191_black-history_i-had-never-run-a-campaign-but-i-was-an_2537711.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/junius-williams-28191_black-history_i-had-never-run-a-campaign-but-i-was-an_2537711.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c13/junius-williams-28191_black-history_i-had-never-run-a-campaign-but-i-was-an_2537711.jpg) > ““I had never run a campaign, but I was an organizer. My job was to create momentum by mobilizing the constituency we had, which I was positioned to do.”” [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An organizer builds momentum by activating existing supporters rather than launching a full campaign. **In simple terms:** Organizers spark action using current supporters. Key Takeaway Leverage your base to create movement. Themes organization politics grassroots Mood strategic motivational Type leadership practical When to use this quote - political campaigns - community organizing - nonprofit fundraising Key Concepts mobilization momentum leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify untapped supporters? - What tactics keep momentum alive? A Different Perspective Success depends on the size and engagement of the existing constituency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-history/) [Urban-politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urban-politics/) ## Related quotes > [In the beginning the organizer's first job is to create the issues or problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/in-the-beginning-the-organizer-s-first-job-is-to-create-the-issues-or/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [“Too few of us from the Black Power generation and the movements to take power in cities through the election of black elected officials…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/too-few-of-us-from-the-black-power-generation-and-the-movements-to/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“We learned how to envision a different neighborhood, fought for the resources to make it happen, and in March 1968, through the Medical School…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/we-learned-how-to-envision-a-different-neighborhood-fought-for-the/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“The SNCC base of operation, at the corner of Jackson and High Streets, was in the heart of the black community in Montgomery. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/the-sncc-base-of-operation-at-the-corner-of-jackson-and-high-streets/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“I remembered how tough it was getting black people in large tenements to come together to build a playground. The enemy was not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/i-remembered-how-tough-it-was-getting-black-people-in-large-tenements/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“We were still confined to that corner. More and more people joined us, some black and some white. On the second day, we awoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/we-were-still-confined-to-that-corner-more-and-more-people-joined-us/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“Organizing a working majority proved harder than we thought because we couldn't get a quorum. But one day in December, twelve people showed up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/organizing-a-working-majority-proved-harder-than-we-thought-because/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“Later that year, the Voting Rights Act opened the door for thousands to register for the first time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/later-that-year-the-voting-rights-act-opened-the-door-for-thousands/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“Knocking on doors wasn't working. We had to try something else. Remember the kids whose natural curiosity brought them into our little office on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/knocking-on-doors-wasn-t-working-we-had-to-try-something-else/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“The youth were to be trained to be the vanguard of the next battlefront, whatever that was. I knew within my heart that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/the-youth-were-to-be-trained-to-be-the-vanguard-of-the-next/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“Black power showed up in different ways, depending on the goals of the group.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/black-power-showed-up-in-different-ways-depending-on-the-goals-of-the/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“But despite the scarcity of confrontation with whites in our neighborhood, race and racism permeated every aspect of our lives. Our parents taught us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/but-despite-the-scarcity-of-confrontation-with-whites-in-our/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“Life was not always so peaceful and rewarding at NAPA (the office). Sometime during 1968, I cam back to the office and found the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/life-was-not-always-so-peaceful-and-rewarding-at-napa-the-office/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“So on June 16, 1970, history was made in Newark. Ken Gibson became the first black mayor of a major Northeastern city.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/so-on-june-16-1970-history-was-made-in-newark-ken-gibson-became-the/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“There was an aura about King that was unforgettable. I seem him now in my mind's eye: collected, peaceful, calm. He was in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/there-was-an-aura-about-king-that-was-unforgettable-i-seem-him-now-in/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) ## More by Junius Williams > [“Later that year, the Voting Rights Act opened the door for thousands to register for the first time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/later-that-year-the-voting-rights-act-opened-the-door-for-thousands/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“So on June 16, 1970, history was made in Newark. Ken Gibson became the first black mayor of a major Northeastern city.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/so-on-june-16-1970-history-was-made-in-newark-ken-gibson-became-the/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“The enemy was not the Klan but the inside-outside lock that racism and classism had on the minds of the people: It operated from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/the-enemy-was-not-the-klan-but-the-inside-outside-lock-that-racism/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“Life was not always so peaceful and rewarding at NAPA (the office). Sometime during 1968, I cam back to the office and found the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/life-was-not-always-so-peaceful-and-rewarding-at-napa-the-office/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“But despite the scarcity of confrontation with whites in our neighborhood, race and racism permeated every aspect of our lives. Our parents taught us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/but-despite-the-scarcity-of-confrontation-with-whites-in-our/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“Black power showed up in different ways, depending on the goals of the group.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/black-power-showed-up-in-different-ways-depending-on-the-goals-of-the/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“The youth were to be trained to be the vanguard of the next battlefront, whatever that was. I knew within my heart that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/the-youth-were-to-be-trained-to-be-the-vanguard-of-the-next/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“Knocking on doors wasn't working. We had to try something else. Remember the kids whose natural curiosity brought them into our little office on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/knocking-on-doors-wasn-t-working-we-had-to-try-something-else/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“Organizing a working majority proved harder than we thought because we couldn't get a quorum. But one day in December, twelve people showed up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/organizing-a-working-majority-proved-harder-than-we-thought-because/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“We were still confined to that corner. More and more people joined us, some black and some white. On the second day, we awoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/we-were-still-confined-to-that-corner-more-and-more-people-joined-us/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“I remembered how tough it was getting black people in large tenements to come together to build a playground. The enemy was not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/i-remembered-how-tough-it-was-getting-black-people-in-large-tenements/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“The SNCC base of operation, at the corner of Jackson and High Streets, was in the heart of the black community in Montgomery. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/the-sncc-base-of-operation-at-the-corner-of-jackson-and-high-streets/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“We learned how to envision a different neighborhood, fought for the resources to make it happen, and in March 1968, through the Medical School…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/we-learned-how-to-envision-a-different-neighborhood-fought-for-the/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“Too few of us from the Black Power generation and the movements to take power in cities through the election of black elected officials…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/too-few-of-us-from-the-black-power-generation-and-the-movements-to/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“There was an aura about King that was unforgettable. I seem him now in my mind's eye: collected, peaceful, calm. He was in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/there-was-an-aura-about-king-that-was-unforgettable-i-seem-him-now-in/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) [Explore all 19 Junius Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) ## More Black history quotes > [“Later that year, the Voting Rights Act opened the door for thousands to register for the first time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/later-that-year-the-voting-rights-act-opened-the-door-for-thousands/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) > [“Any ministry to black people which is not designed to effect their empowerment is designed to perpetuate their enslavement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/any-ministry-to-black-people-which-is-not-designed-to-effect-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My horizon on humanity is enlarged by reading the writers of poems, seeing a painting, listening to some music, some opera, which has nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wole-soyinka/my-horizon-on-humanity-is-enlarged-by-reading-the-writers-of-poems/) [Wole Soyinka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wole-soyinka/) > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [“The war that killed my grandfather and great-uncles and thousands of other blacks is only a footnote in our history books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-garc-a/the-war-that-killed-my-grandfather-and-great-uncles-and-thousands-of/) [Cristina García](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-garc-a/) > [When you have a large amount of the workforce being laid off, some of them have no other choice but to go out there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daymond-john/when-you-have-a-large-amount-of-the-workforce-being-laid-off-some-of/) [Daymond John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daymond-john/) > [I didn't learn black history in school. I had to go find Malcolm X books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-didn-t-learn-black-history-in-school-i-had-to-go-find-malcolm-x/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [The majority of the Negroes who took part in the year-long boycott of Montgomery's buses were poor and untutored; but they understood the essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-majority-of-the-negroes-who-took-part-in-the-year-long-boycott-of/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I do consider myself part of black history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-do-consider-myself-part-of-black-history/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [ \[W\]e are the heirs of a past of rope, fire, and murder. I for one am not ashamed of this past. My shame is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/w-e-are-the-heirs-of-a-past-of-rope-fire-and-murder-i-for-one-am-not/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Happy Black History Month everyone. I challenge you blacks to change how other races view us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happy-black-history-month-everyone-i-challenge-you-blacks-to-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That was when I realized we weren’t born to be slaves. It was ignorant for any man to think he could be the master…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-grewal/that-was-when-i-realized-we-weren-t-born-to-be-slaves-it-was-ignorant/) [Jay Grewal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-grewal/) > [For children, diversity needs to be real and not merely relegated to learning the names of the usual suspects during Black History Month or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/for-children-diversity-needs-to-be-real-and-not-merely-relegated-to/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Unconditional love will have the final word in reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/unconditional-love-will-have-the-final-word-in-reality/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I was often filled with excitement to be given a platform to showcase Black history to others. I never questioned why Black history wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-love/i-was-often-filled-with-excitement-to-be-given-a-platform-to-showcase/) [Judi Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-love/) [Browse all 299 Black history quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-history/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I had never run a campaign, but I was an organizer. 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