---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Progressive white teachers seem to say to…"
description: "\"Progressive white teachers seem to say to their black students 'Let me help you find your voice. I promise not to criticize one note as you search for ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/lisa-delpit-41168_black_progressive-white-teachers-seem-to-say-t_1552684.png"
---

#  Progressive white teachers seem to say to their black…

![“Progressive white teachers seem to say to their black students 'Let me help you find your voice. I promise not to criticize one note as you search for your song'. But the black teachers say 'I've heard your song loud and clear. Now I want to teach you to harmonize with the rest of the world.” quote by Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/lisa-delpit-41168_black_progressive-white-teachers-seem-to-say-t_1552684.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/lisa-delpit-41168_black_progressive-white-teachers-seem-to-say-t_1552684.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/lisa-delpit-41168_black_progressive-white-teachers-seem-to-say-t_1552684.png)

> “Progressive white teachers seem to say to their black students 'Let me help you find your voice. I promise not to criticize one note as you search for your song'. But the black teachers say 'I've heard your song loud and clear. Now I want to teach you to harmonize with the rest of the world.”

[Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

White teachers promise to empower black students, while black teachers emphasize harmonizing with broader society, highlighting differing pedagogical approaches.

**In simple terms:** Teaching styles differ on empowerment vs. integration.

Key Takeaway

Balance encouragement with cultural integration.

Themes

education culture empowerment integration pedagogy

Mood

thoughtful critical inquisitive

Type

reflective educational

When to use this quote

- classroom discussions
- mentor programs
- cultural exchange
- inclusive curricula

Key Concepts

identity voice social harmony

Questions to Reflect On

- How can teachers honor individual voices while fostering unity?
- What risks arise from imposing harmony?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on harmony may silence unique voices; empowerment must be authentic.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [So one of the things that happened with integration in the South is they found that the black teachers were much more educated than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-johnson-reagon/so-one-of-the-things-that-happened-with-integration-in-the-south-is/)

[Bernice Johnson Reagon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-johnson-reagon/)

> [I got lucky. To be frank, I was surrounded by white teachers who never did the whole, 'You're never going to amount to nothing'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-got-lucky-to-be-frank-i-was-surrounded-by-white-teachers-who-never/)

[Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/)

> [While HBCUs may only represent 3% of the nation's colleges and universities, they produce 50% of black teachers and 80% of black judges and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laphonza-butler/while-hbcus-may-only-represent-3-of-the-nation-s-colleges-and/)

[Laphonza Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laphonza-butler/)

> [We need more male black teachers, tempting them with extra cash if necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-phillips/we-need-more-male-black-teachers-tempting-them-with-extra-cash-if/)

[Trevor Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-phillips/)

> [Enlightenment, the old teachers say, adds nothing, except maybe the recognition of a need for and a commitment to the work that still needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-martin/enlightenment-the-old-teachers-say-adds-nothing-except-maybe-the/)

[Rafe Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-martin/)

> [“Rain, the grade school teachers say, makes the trees and flowers grow, but we’re not trees and flowers, and so many grade school teachers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/rain-the-grade-school-teachers-say-makes-the-trees-and-flowers-grow/)

[Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/)

> [Your job is not just to do what your parents say, what your teachers say, what society says, but to figure out what your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/your-job-is-not-just-to-do-what-your-parents-say-what-your-teachers/)

[Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/)

> [I've had acting teachers say, 'If you want to do anything else but act, that means you're not an actor,' which I think is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zazie-beetz/i-ve-had-acting-teachers-say-if-you-want-to-do-anything-else-but-act/)

[Zazie Beetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zazie-beetz/)

> [I hate it when teachers say from all this talking, I assume your done working SHUT UP,from all this complaining, I assume your still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-it-when-teachers-say-from-all-this-talking-i-assume-your-done/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Teachers say to me, 'The internet is full of rubbish, wrong answers.' But you would be surprised how just long it takes to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugata-mitra/teachers-say-to-me-the-internet-is-full-of-rubbish-wrong-answers-but/)

[Sugata Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugata-mitra/)

> [Teachers say try your hardest to get a good job. When most of them have minimum wage drop out jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-awesome-quoter-truth-only/teachers-say-try-your-hardest-to-get-a-good-job-when-most-of-them/)

The Awesome Quoter Truth Only

> [AndIQuote : Teachers Always Say ' Stop Talking When Im Talking ' But Then They Never Really Noticed That Your Were Talking First And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-fulk/andiquote-teachers-always-say-stop-talking-when-im-talking-but-then/)

Alyssa Fulk

> [Good teachers never say anything. What they do is create the conditions under which learning takes place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/good-teachers-never-say-anything-what-they-do-is-create-the/)

[S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/)

> [“No matter what those sex-ed teachers say about how great condoms are, there's not a condom in the world to protect you from heartbreak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-friend/no-matter-what-those-sex-ed-teachers-say-about-how-great-condoms-are/)

[Natasha Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-friend/)

> [I hate it when teachers say, You think it's funny? Obviously it is,if it wasn't I wouldn't be laughing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-it-when-teachers-say-you-think-it-s-funny-obviously-it-is-if/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Lisa Delpit

> [“There is no achievement gap at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/there-is-no-achievement-gap-at-birth/)

[Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/)

> [“Currently, “minority” students represent a majority in all but two of our twenty-five largest cities, and by some estimates, the turn of the century…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/currently-minority-students-represent-a-majority-in-all-but-two-of/)

[Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/)

> [When one 'we' gets to determine standards for all 'we's' then some 'we's' are in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/when-one-we-gets-to-determine-standards-for-all-we-s-then-some-we-s/)

[Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/)

> [“If there’s someone who doesn’t understand what I’m teaching, I try to understand who they are.   A”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/if-there-s-someone-who-doesn-t-understand-what-i-m-teaching-i-try-to/)

[Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/)

> [If the curriculum we use to teach our children does not connect in positive ways to the culture young people bring to school, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/if-the-curriculum-we-use-to-teach-our-children-does-not-connect-in/)

[Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/)

> [In order to teach you, I must know you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/in-order-to-teach-you-i-must-know-you/)

[Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/)

> [We do not really see through our eyes or hear through our ears, but through our beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/we-do-not-really-see-through-our-eyes-or-hear-through-our-ears-but/)

[Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/)

> [We do not really see through our eyes or hear through our ears, but through our beliefs. To put our beliefs on hold is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/we-do-not-really-see-through-our-eyes-or-hear-through-our-ears-but-2/)

[Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/)

> [ Those with power are frequently least aware of -- or least willing to acknowledge -- its existence \[and\] those with less power are often… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/those-with-power-are-frequently-least-aware-of-or-least-willing-to/)

[Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/)

[Explore all 10 Lisa Delpit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/)

## More Black quotes

> [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/)

[Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/)

> [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/)

[Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/)

[Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/)

> [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/)

[Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/)

> [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/)

[Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/)

> [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/)

[Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/)

> [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/)

Frank B. Wilderson III

> [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/)

[R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/)

> [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/)

[John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/)

> [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/)

[Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/)

> [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/)

[Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/)

Browse all 11,655 Black quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Progressive white teachers seem to say to their black students 'Let me help you find your voice. I promise not to criticize one note as you search for your song'. But the black teachers say 'I've heard your song loud and clear. Now I want to teach you to harmonize with the rest of the world.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lisa Delpit"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/progressive-white-teachers-seem-to-say-to-their-black-students-let-me/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Black"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/progressive-white-teachers-seem-to-say-to-their-black-students-let-me/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/lisa-delpit-41168_black_progressive-white-teachers-seem-to-say-t_1552684.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/lisa-delpit-41168_black_progressive-white-teachers-seem-to-say-t_1552684.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/lisa-delpit-41168_black_progressive-white-teachers-seem-to-say-t_1552684.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Progressive white teachers seem to say to their black students 'Let me help you find your voice. I promise…” — Lisa Delpit",
                "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": "Lisa Delpit",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Progressive white teachers seem to say...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/progressive-white-teachers-seem-to-say-to-their-black-students-let-me/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/progressive-white-teachers-seem-to-say-to-their-black-students-let-me/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
