--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started working in human rights…" description: "\"When I started working in human rights, Eastern Europe was communist, South Africa was under apartheid and South Korea had military rule. All the chang..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0aa/kerry-kennedy-5292_apartheid_when-i-started-working-in-human-rights-e_1086426.jpg" --- # When I started working in human rights, Eastern Europe was… ![“When I started working in human rights, Eastern Europe was communist, South Africa was under apartheid and South Korea had military rule. All the changes have come about not because of the militaries or government but because small groups of people spoke out against what was unfair and unjust.” quote by Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0aa/kerry-kennedy-5292_apartheid_when-i-started-working-in-human-rights-e_1086426.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0aa/kerry-kennedy-5292_apartheid_when-i-started-working-in-human-rights-e_1086426.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0aa/kerry-kennedy-5292_apartheid_when-i-started-working-in-human-rights-e_1086426.jpg) > “When I started working in human rights, Eastern Europe was communist, South Africa was under apartheid and South Korea had military rule. All the changes have come about not because of the militaries or government but because small groups of people spoke out against what was unfair and unjust.” [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Small groups of courageous people can drive societal change more than armies or governments. **In simple terms:** People can change societies. Key Takeaway Empower grassroots activism. Themes human rights activism social change political reform civil society Mood inspiring determined Type historical motivational When to use this quote - protests - community organizing - policy advocacy - public awareness campaigns Key Concepts collective action moral courage grassroots movements Questions to Reflect On - How can you support local activists? - What barriers do grassroots movements face? A Different Perspective Change also needs institutional support and resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Africa Apartheid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa-apartheid-460437/) [Apartheid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apartheid/) [Eastern europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eastern-europe/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Europe Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe-communist-2786202/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Military Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-rule-1765293/) [Rights Eastern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-eastern-2786201/) [Small groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-groups/) [South korea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-korea/) ## Related quotes > [“I was born and raised E.Europe in a communist country. 1990 I escaped and Immigrated to the USA. I thought found the Democracy until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zybejta-beta-metani-marashi/i-was-born-and-raised-e-europe-in-a-communist-country-1990-i-escaped/) [Zybejta Beta Metani'Marashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zybejta-beta-metani-marashi/) > [The trouble with military rule is that every colonel or general is soon full of ambition. The navy takes over today and the army…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yakubu-gowon/the-trouble-with-military-rule-is-that-every-colonel-or-general-is/) [Yakubu Gowon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yakubu-gowon/) > [Democracy or military rule, Right from the repressive policies of the ruling class, then grabbing power from the device remains in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/democracy-or-military-rule-right-from-the-repressive-policies-of-the/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [We have been under military rule since 1952, when a group of army officers overthrew Egypt's monarchy and ended Britain's occupation of the country.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-eltahawy/we-have-been-under-military-rule-since-1952-when-a-group-of-army/) [Mona Eltahawy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-eltahawy/) > [During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Latin America moved decisively away from military rule and toward civilian democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/during-the-late-1970s-and-early-1980s-latin-america-moved-decisively/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [While the 2011 revolution did not remove the regime, it has shortened the seemingly endless patience that many Egyptians once had for military rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-eltahawy/while-the-2011-revolution-did-not-remove-the-regime-it-has-shortened/) [Mona Eltahawy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-eltahawy/) > [The Reformed Church was identified with the old all-white government of South Africa and its apartheid policy. The Roman Catholic Church was closely identified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edd-doerr/the-reformed-church-was-identified-with-the-old-all-white-government/) [Edd Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edd-doerr/) > [I think we've become blind in this country to the ways in which we've managed to reinvent a caste-like system here in the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/i-think-we-ve-become-blind-in-this-country-to-the-ways-in-which-we-ve/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [If it were in our national security to deploy to South Africa under apartheid, would we have found it acceptable or customary to segregate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-mcsally/if-it-were-in-our-national-security-to-deploy-to-south-africa-under/) [Martha McSally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-mcsally/) > [I was 15 years old when I first heard the name Mandela, or Madiba, as he is fondly known in Africa. In apartheid South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumi-naidoo/i-was-15-years-old-when-i-first-heard-the-name-mandela-or-madiba-as/) [Kumi Naidoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumi-naidoo/) > [The Jews took Israel from the Arabs after the Arabs had lived there for a thousand years. Israel, like South Africa, is an apartheid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-verwoerd/the-jews-took-israel-from-the-arabs-after-the-arabs-had-lived-there/) [Hendrik Verwoerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-verwoerd/) > [I try not to get too political. But coming from South Africa, where apartheid was a huge problem, and there was lots of inequality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-anderson/i-try-not-to-get-too-political-but-coming-from-south-africa-where/) [Kevin Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-anderson/) > [I'm a historian by training and by conviction. And so the thing that has throughout informed my thinking about international relations is history. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-garton-ash/i-m-a-historian-by-training-and-by-conviction-and-so-the-thing-that/) [Timothy Garton Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-garton-ash/) > [For people familiar with Eastern Europe, Marci Shore's 'The Taste of Ashes' is, in spite of its subject matter, delicious. A professor at Yale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-davies/for-people-familiar-with-eastern-europe-marci-shore-s-the-taste-of/) [Norman Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-davies/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) ## More by Kerry Kennedy > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [I have 10 brothers and sisters. My mother raised us because my father died when I was 8.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-have-10-brothers-and-sisters-my-mother-raised-us-because-my-father/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [While the One Child Policy has been effective in drastically reducing Chinese birth rates, the measures adopted in its name have required exhaustive, violent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/while-the-one-child-policy-has-been-effective-in-drastically-reducing/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [I went to the Convent of the Sacred Heart for four years. It was interesting to me because, in a family where men were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-went-to-the-convent-of-the-sacred-heart-for-four-years-it-was/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [I think that on the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders talks about income inequality and poverty alleviation, and those issues are so important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-think-that-on-the-democratic-side-bernie-sanders-talks-about-income/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [Forgiveness is a gift, and central to faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/forgiveness-is-a-gift-and-central-to-faith/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [Dr. King gave his life to peace and justice and reconciliation between people, black and white, rich and poor, and he was a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/dr-king-gave-his-life-to-peace-and-justice-and-reconciliation-between/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [I'm not the most organized person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-m-not-the-most-organized-person/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [I have to tell you, virtually every country I've gone to, the Catholic church is on the cutting edge of social change. Really extraordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-have-to-tell-you-virtually-every-country-i-ve-gone-to-the-catholic/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [There are no wealthy people on Rikers Island because if you are wealthy, you go free because you make bail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/there-are-no-wealthy-people-on-rikers-island-because-if-you-are/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [I grew up outside of Washington D.C., a town in which the largest industry is government and in which almost everyone I knew was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-grew-up-outside-of-washington-d-c-a-town-in-which-the-largest/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [We need autocracies and failing democracies alike to understand that they cannot scapegoat LGBT citizens to distract from their own shortcomings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/we-need-autocracies-and-failing-democracies-alike-to-understand-that/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [I think of myself as a human-rights advocate and as a mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-think-of-myself-as-a-human-rights-advocate-and-as-a-mother/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [We've got to pass legislation which will allow people to have access to competent counsel no matter who they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/we-ve-got-to-pass-legislation-which-will-allow-people-to-have-access/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [There were times I should have been completely emotionally available to my kids and I wasn't there, even for reading a book with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/there-were-times-i-should-have-been-completely-emotionally-available/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) [Explore all 102 Kerry Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) ## More Apartheid quotes > [My life had been defined by the apartheid years. Now we were going into an era of democracy... and I believed that I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/my-life-had-been-defined-by-the-apartheid-years-now-we-were-going/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [If apartheid is removed, then the violence that is necessary to maintain it will be removed along with the pressures from apartheid which create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/if-apartheid-is-removed-then-the-violence-that-is-necessary-to/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [I try not to get too political. But coming from South Africa, where apartheid was a huge problem, and there was lots of inequality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-anderson/i-try-not-to-get-too-political-but-coming-from-south-africa-where/) [Kevin Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-anderson/) > [I grew up under Thatcher; the era of apartheid; the era of the poll tax; the era of riots. I remember Neil Kinnock was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/i-grew-up-under-thatcher-the-era-of-apartheid-the-era-of-the-poll-tax/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [When I talk about the end of apartheid, I prefer not to claim the honor that I have ended it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-w-de-klerk/when-i-talk-about-the-end-of-apartheid-i-prefer-not-to-claim-the/) [F. W. de Klerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-w-de-klerk/) > [ We \[ with Brian Mulroney and Rajiv Gandhi\] went to the meeting in Canada \[the 1987 Vancouver CHOGM\] and I said to them there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hawke/we-with-brian-mulroney-and-rajiv-gandhi-went-to-the-meeting-in-canada/) [Bob Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hawke/) > [My time in prison only deepened my resolve against apartheid. Even while I was in prison, I fought against it, teaching my cellmates about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/my-time-in-prison-only-deepened-my-resolve-against-apartheid-even/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [But I think I'm on track to do something even bigger. I liberate minds with my music. That's more important than liberating a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/but-i-think-i-m-on-track-to-do-something-even-bigger-i-liberate-minds/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [The mistake the apartheid government made was they gave the black people nothing, so they had nothing to lose. But now a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-smith/the-mistake-the-apartheid-government-made-was-they-gave-the-black/) [Wilbur Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-smith/) > [HEAVEN: The big apartheid in the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-appleman/heaven-the-big-apartheid-in-the-sky/) [Philip Appleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-appleman/) > [I have no doubt that in the future, the laws that criminalize human love and commitment will look the way the apartheid laws do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/i-have-no-doubt-that-in-the-future-the-laws-that-criminalize-human/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [My life had been defined by the apartheid years. Now we were going into an era of democracy... and I believed that I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athol-fugard/my-life-had-been-defined-by-the-apartheid-years-now-we-were-going-2/) [Athol Fugard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athol-fugard/) > [The violence associated with the A.N.C. is minimal, infinitesimal next to the violence of the apartheid regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-tambo/the-violence-associated-with-the-a-n-c-is-minimal-infinitesimal-next/) [Oliver Tambo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-tambo/) > [Imagine if your kids had to carry a ladder to climb an apartheid wall to get to school everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-suleiman/imagine-if-your-kids-had-to-carry-a-ladder-to-climb-an-apartheid-wall/) [Omar Suleiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-suleiman/) > [The private schools and the independent schools like Oprah's are really doing well because they've got the best of everything but it certainly puts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlayne-hunter-gault/the-private-schools-and-the-independent-schools-like-oprah-s-are/) [Charlayne Hunter-Gault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlayne-hunter-gault/) [Browse all 299 Apartheid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apartheid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I started working in human rights, Eastern Europe was communist, South Africa was under apartheid and South Korea had military rule. 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