Civil rights Quote by Lawrence Wright
“When I was trained as a journalist, as a race-relations reporter in Nashville covering the end of the civil-rights movement, we were strictly forbidden to use the first-person pronoun. There was kind of an electric charge around it. To come out from hiding and use the word 'I' carried a lot of fright for me.”
About This Quote
Source Memoir: “The Race Relations Reporter” (interview), 2015
Journalists were prohibited from using “I,” creating fear and limiting personal voice in reporting.
In simple terms: Avoiding “I” stifles personal perspective.
Key Takeaway
Embrace personal voice responsibly.
Themes
journalism
identity
freedom
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reporting on civil rights
- personal narratives
- media training
- editorial policies
Key Concepts
ethics
self expression
Questions to Reflect On
- Should personal pronouns be allowed in reporting?
- How does voice affect credibility?
A Different Perspective
Strict rules can suppress authentic storytelling.
