Definitions Quote by Lupita Nyong'o
“Growing up in Kenya, slum life was not far away. I had family that lived in slums, so I visited them often, and so I've seen and interacted with abject poverty. But I also know that because of that, poverty is not the definition of the people that live there.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Vanity Fair, 2020
Poverty is a circumstance, not a definition of identity; empathy reveals humanity beyond hardship.
In simple terms: Poverty doesn't define people; empathy sees their humanity.
Key Takeaway
See people beyond their circumstances.
Themes
social justice
empathy
identity
Mood
compassionate
hopeful
Type
inspirational
social
When to use this quote
- community work
- policy advocacy
- education programs
- storytelling
Key Concepts
Structural inequality
human dignity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we highlight strengths in marginalized communities?
- What actions can you take to support them?
A Different Perspective
Focusing solely on poverty can reinforce stereotypes.
![“The self is defined psychologically as the psychic totality of the individual. Anything that a [person] postulates as being a greater totality than [oneself] can become a symbol of the self. For this reason the symbol of the self is not always as total as the definition would require.” quote by Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/251/carl-jung-274_defined_the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-t_7148.jpg)
