--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was growing up, so many of the…" description: "\"When I was growing up, so many of the important changes for African-Americans were being made in the United States Supreme Court and were being made by..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/leah-ward-sears-46705_african-americans_when-i-was-growing-up-so-many-of-the-imp_3193718.jpg" --- # When I was growing up, so many of the important changes… ![“When I was growing up, so many of the important changes for African-Americans were being made in the United States Supreme Court and were being made by lawyers. I followed the court very intensely and wanted to do that for my life.” quote by Leah Ward Sears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/leah-ward-sears-46705_african-americans_when-i-was-growing-up-so-many-of-the-imp_3193718.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/leah-ward-sears-46705_african-americans_when-i-was-growing-up-so-many-of-the-imp_3193718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b2/leah-ward-sears-46705_african-americans_when-i-was-growing-up-so-many-of-the-imp_3193718.jpg) > “When I was growing up, so many of the important changes for African-Americans were being made in the United States Supreme Court and were being made by lawyers. I followed the court very intensely and wanted to do that for my life.” [Leah Ward Sears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-ward-sears/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She was inspired by Supreme Court lawyers and decided to pursue a legal career to effect change for African-Americans. **In simple terms:** Court lawyers inspired her legal ambition. Key Takeaway Follow role models to shape career goals. Themes justice inspiration law civil rights career choice Mood determined hopeful Type personal career When to use this quote - law school selection - civil rights activism - policy advocacy - community outreach Key Concepts role model influence systemic change legal advocacy Questions to Reflect On - Who are your legal role models? - How can you overcome barriers in the legal field? A Different Perspective Legal paths can be limited by systemic barriers despite inspiration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-americans/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Supreme court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supreme-court/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [“Second-generation lawyers may fare better. Children of lawyers who followed in their parent’s footsteps were more satisfied than most lawyers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-swaim-daicoff/second-generation-lawyers-may-fare-better-children-of-lawyers-who/) Susan Swaim Daicoff > [If it's a close election, then it's better for the Supreme Court to pick the president, whether or not he won the election. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-bugliosi/if-it-s-a-close-election-then-it-s-better-for-the-supreme-court-to/) [Vincent Bugliosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-bugliosi/) > [The Supreme Court should televise its proceedings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/the-supreme-court-should-televise-its-proceedings/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [It's going to mean four or five justices, super liberal, placed on the Supreme Court. Our country will never, ever be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/it-s-going-to-mean-four-or-five-justices-super-liberal-placed-on-the/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [It is important that Miers not be confirmed unless, in her 61st year, she suddenly and unexpectedly is found to have hitherto undisclosed interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/it-is-important-that-miers-not-be-confirmed-unless-in-her-61st-year/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) > [Hillary Clinton has pledged to keep both of these illegal amnesty programs, including the 2014 amnesty which has been blocked by the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/hillary-clinton-has-pledged-to-keep-both-of-these-illegal-amnesty/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I'm really proud of this Supreme Court and the way they've been dealing with the issue of First Amendment political speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/i-m-really-proud-of-this-supreme-court-and-the-way-they-ve-been/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [ A nominee \[to Supreme Court\] must possess the competence, character and temperament to serve on the bench. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/a-nominee-to-supreme-court-must-possess-the-competence-character-and/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [A year ago, my approval rating was in the 30s, my nominee for the supreme court had just withdrawn, and my vice president had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/a-year-ago-my-approval-rating-was-in-the-30s-my-nominee-for-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I feel strongly that the Supreme Court needs to stand on the side of the American people, not on the side of the powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-feel-strongly-that-the-supreme-court-needs-to-stand-on-the-side-of/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Even the Supreme Court, back when it used to makes sense, the Supreme Court has never ruled that a baby born to illegal aliens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/even-the-supreme-court-back-when-it-used-to-makes-sense-the-supreme/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I always like to take my time and examine the two candidates, see not only the two candidates but the policies they will bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-always-like-to-take-my-time-and-examine-the-two-candidates-see-not/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [When I went to law school, which after all was back in the dark ages, we never looked beyond our borders for precedents. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/when-i-went-to-law-school-which-after-all-was-back-in-the-dark-ages/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [In a recent decision of the Supreme Court, not made, however, by the full court, and concurred in by only four justices, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bates-clark/in-a-recent-decision-of-the-supreme-court-not-made-however-by-the/) [John Bates Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bates-clark/) ## More by Leah Ward Sears > [I think people need to commit to one another before they commit to bringing children into the world because that's the optimum arrangement for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-ward-sears/i-think-people-need-to-commit-to-one-another-before-they-commit-to/) [Leah Ward Sears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-ward-sears/) > [I had very supportive parents that made the way for me, even at a time when there were very few women - no women,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-ward-sears/i-had-very-supportive-parents-that-made-the-way-for-me-even-at-a-time/) [Leah Ward Sears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-ward-sears/) > [I'd like to see marriage count again among African-Americans and not just in the society in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-ward-sears/i-d-like-to-see-marriage-count-again-among-african-americans-and-not/) [Leah Ward Sears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-ward-sears/) > [We need to in this country begin again to raise civil discourse to another level. I mean, we shout and scream and yell and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-ward-sears/we-need-to-in-this-country-begin-again-to-raise-civil-discourse-to/) [Leah Ward Sears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-ward-sears/) > [I don't think there is such a definition of a perfect family, but I do think that our marriages are in crisis. Our families…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-ward-sears/i-don-t-think-there-is-such-a-definition-of-a-perfect-family-but-i-do/) [Leah Ward Sears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-ward-sears/) > [I've always been very interested in the struggle for human rights, not just here but abroad, and I wanted to be an inside player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-ward-sears/i-ve-always-been-very-interested-in-the-struggle-for-human-rights-not/) [Leah Ward Sears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-ward-sears/) > [A mother is a mother all of your life,but a father is a father only when he has a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-ward-sears/a-mother-is-a-mother-all-of-your-life-but-a-father-is-a-father-only/) [Leah Ward Sears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-ward-sears/) [Explore all 8 Leah Ward Sears quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-ward-sears/) ## More African americans quotes > [In a lot of movies, African-Americans are either maids or slaves, but that's not all they were. We need to show that. And we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-schroeder/in-a-lot-of-movies-african-americans-are-either-maids-or-slaves-but/) [Allison Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-schroeder/) > [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [“Alabama in 1927 alone, 27,701 men were arrested on misdemeanor charges and offered for sale by county sheriffs. In Blackmon’s estimation, “roughly half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-haney-l-pez/alabama-in-1927-alone-27-701-men-were-arrested-on-misdemeanor-charges/) [Ian Haney López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-haney-l-pez/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [“He (Zerubavel) draws attention to the social influences on perception (what people notice), attention and concern (what people care about), classification (how people categorize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-griswold/he-zerubavel-draws-attention-to-the-social-influences-on-perception/) [Wendy Griswold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-griswold/) > [To those African-Americans suffering in our country, I say, what do you have to lose? Vote for Trump, I'm going to fix it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/to-those-african-americans-suffering-in-our-country-i-say-what-do-you/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Affirmative action was designed to recognize the uniquely difficult journey of African-Americans. This policy was justifiable and understandable, even to those who came from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-webb/affirmative-action-was-designed-to-recognize-the-uniquely-difficult/) [Jim Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-webb/) > [“The black officer checks Daddy while his partner glances around at all of the onlookers. There's quite a few of us now. Ms. Yvette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/the-black-officer-checks-daddy-while-his-partner-glances-around-at/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [African Americans are doing a lot already, but I think we have an opportunity right now to change politics in a way that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckmann/african-americans-are-doing-a-lot-already-but-i-think-we-have-an/) [David Beckmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckmann/) > [The uncomfortable reality we must face is that California, like the nation as a whole, has treated generations of African Americans and Latinos as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/the-uncomfortable-reality-we-must-face-is-that-california-like-the/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [Since the nations founding, African Americans repeatedly have been controlled through institutions such as slavery and Jim Crow, which appear to die but then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/since-the-nations-founding-african-americans-repeatedly-have-been/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [You take a look at the history of African Americans in the US. There's been about thirty years of relative freedom. There was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/you-take-a-look-at-the-history-of-african-americans-in-the-us-there-s/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Michael Schultz's 'Cooley High' is a classic. Oftentimes, we don't get to see films about coming of age, especially for young African Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/michael-schultz-s-cooley-high-is-a-classic-oftentimes-we-don-t-get-to/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [As African-Americans, we don't start with a blank slate, while other people may. In our position, there's always some sort of stereotype that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-woods/as-african-americans-we-don-t-start-with-a-blank-slate-while-other/) [Xavier Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-woods/) [Browse all 593 African americans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-americans/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was growing up, so many of the important changes for African-Americans were being made in the United States Supreme Court and were being made by lawyers. 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