--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: 22 million African-Americans - that's…" description: "\"22 million African-Americans - that's what we are - Africans who are in America.\" — Malcolm X" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/malcolm-x-213_african-american_22-million-african-americans-that-s-what_1432155.jpg" --- # 22 million African-Americans - that's what we are… ![“22 million African-Americans - that's what we are - Africans who are in America.” quote by Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/malcolm-x-213_african-american_22-million-african-americans-that-s-what_1432155.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/malcolm-x-213_african-american_22-million-african-americans-that-s-what_1432155.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/malcolm-x-213_african-american_22-million-african-americans-that-s-what_1432155.jpg) > “22 million African-Americans - that's what we are - Africans who are in America.” [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledges African‑American identity rooted in African heritage and American experience. **In simple terms:** African‑Americans are African in America. Key Takeaway Embrace and honor dual heritage. Themes identity heritage politics race activism Mood proud defiant Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - community organizing - education - policy advocacy - cultural events Key Concepts history diaspora civil rights social justice Questions to Reflect On - How does this identity shape your actions? - What responsibilities arise? A Different Perspective Risk of oversimplifying diverse experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [African americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-americans/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Ballots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballots/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) ## Related quotes > [Twenty-two million African-Americans - that's what we are - Africans who are in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/twenty-two-million-african-americans-that-s-what-we-are-africans-who/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The 22 million or 30 million, whatever the case may be, Afro-Americans in the United States were still Africans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-22-million-or-30-million-whatever-the-case-may-be-afro-americans/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [We're not Americans, we're Africans who happen to be in America. We were kidnapped and brought here against our will from Africa. We didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/we-re-not-americans-we-re-africans-who-happen-to-be-in-america-we/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“In addition, the most reliable and recent studies of African tribal culture demonstrated that slavery was a long-standing custom among the Africans themselves, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-ellis/in-addition-the-most-reliable-and-recent-studies-of-african-tribal/) [Joseph J. Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-ellis/) > [In our Nation, approximately 22.5 million children ride school buses to and from school each day, which accounts for 54 percent of all students…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-marchant/in-our-nation-approximately-22-5-million-children-ride-school-buses/) [Kenny Marchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-marchant/) > [22 million new jobs under President Clinton. 3 million lost under Bush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-blumenthal/22-million-new-jobs-under-president-clinton-3-million-lost-under-bush/) [Sidney Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-blumenthal/) > [I think we're going to care more about Americans than Africans. I don't think that's ever going to go away, and I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/i-think-we-re-going-to-care-more-about-americans-than-africans-i-don/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [When I started this run, I said that if we all gave one dollar, we’d have $22 million for cancer research, and I don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-fox/when-i-started-this-run-i-said-that-if-we-all-gave-one-dollar-we-d/) [Terry Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-fox/) > [Irish Americans are no more Irish than Black Americans are Africans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-geldof/irish-americans-are-no-more-irish-than-black-americans-are-africans/) [Bob Geldof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-geldof/) > [I made 22 million in 14 years... with taxes, and travel and everything else, it gets blown out the window... which is why I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boomer-esiason/i-made-22-million-in-14-years-with-taxes-and-travel-and-everything/) [Boomer Esiason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boomer-esiason/) > [We inadvertently keep oppressing Africans when we label them by an approximated color - and even when we confuse a specific socio-cultural group such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-martin-skibsted/we-inadvertently-keep-oppressing-africans-when-we-label-them-by-an/) [Jens Martin Skibsted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-martin-skibsted/) > [ \[White men\] has the audacity to call himself even the "Leader of the Free World" while he has a country that can't even give… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/white-men-has-the-audacity-to-call-himself-even-the-leader-of-the/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [ The problem \[ of the twenty-two million Afro-Americans\] is so broad that it's going to take the inner working of all organizations. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-problem-of-the-twenty-two-million-afro-americans-is-so-broad-that/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I look at the problem of the twenty-two million Afro-Americans as being a problem that's so broad in scope that it's almost impossible for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-look-at-the-problem-of-the-twenty-two-million-afro-americans-as/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [It is the system itself that, that is incapable of producing freedom for the twenty-two million Afro-Americans. Just like a chicken can't lay a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/it-is-the-system-itself-that-that-is-incapable-of-producing-freedom/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## More by Malcolm X > [If Christianity had asserted itself in Germany, six million Jews would have lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-christianity-had-asserted-itself-in-germany-six-million-jews-would/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-career-has-to-be-looked-at-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Be nonviolent only with those who are nonviolent to you. And when you can bring me a nonviolent racist, bring me a nonviolent segregationist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/be-nonviolent-only-with-those-who-are-nonviolent-to-you-and-when-you/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [You can't legislate good will - that comes through education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/you-can-t-legislate-good-will-that-comes-through-education/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Truth is on the side of the oppressed today, it's against the oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/truth-is-on-the-side-of-the-oppressed-today-it-s-against-the-oppressor/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Those type of whites who are always going to jail with Negroes are the ones who tell Negroes to be loving and be kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/those-type-of-whites-who-are-always-going-to-jail-with-negroes-are/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [We Muslims believe that the white race, which is guilty of having oppressed and exploited and enslaved our people here in America, should and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/we-muslims-believe-that-the-white-race-which-is-guilty-of-having/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I mean a real police state just to get a token recognition of a law. It take, it took, I think, 15,000 troops and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-mean-a-real-police-state-just-to-get-a-token-recognition-of-a-law/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Like Samson, I am ready to pull down the white man's temple, knowing full well that I will be destroyed by the falling rubble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/like-samson-i-am-ready-to-pull-down-the-white-man-s-temple-knowing/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Any negro who occupies a position that was given to him by the white man, if you analyze his function, his function never enables…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/any-negro-who-occupies-a-position-that-was-given-to-him-by-the-white/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Stumbling is not falling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/stumbling-is-not-falling/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [God is going to punish the white man for his misdeeds toward black people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/god-is-going-to-punish-the-white-man-for-his-misdeeds-toward-black/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Much of what I say might sound like it's stirring up trouble, but it's the truth!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/much-of-what-i-say-might-sound-like-it-s-stirring-up-trouble-but-it-s/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I believe in the brotherhood of all men, but I don't believe in wasting brotherhood on anyone who doesn't want to practice it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-believe-in-the-brotherhood-of-all-men-but-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) [Explore all 891 Malcolm X quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## More African american quotes > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [“This popularity extended to Trump himself, who, according to private demographic research conducted at the time, was even more popular with African American and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/this-popularity-extended-to-trump-himself-who-according-to-private/) [Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [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/) > [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [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/) > [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [I think it's easier for African American and white comics to be praised than it is Latinos because they think our culture or our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-think-it-s-easier-for-african-american-and-white-comics-to-be/) [George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/) > [“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/) > [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) [Browse all 1,848 African american quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "22 million African-Americans - that's what we are - Africans who are in America.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Malcolm X" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/22-million-african-americans-that-s-what-we-are-africans-who-are-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "African american" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/22-million-african-americans-that-s-what-we-are-africans-who-are-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/malcolm-x-213_african-american_22-million-african-americans-that-s-what_1432155.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/malcolm-x-213_african-american_22-million-african-americans-that-s-what_1432155.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d74/malcolm-x-213_african-american_22-million-african-americans-that-s-what_1432155.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“22 million African-Americans - that's what we are - Africans who are in America.” — Malcolm X", "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": "Malcolm X", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "22 million African-Americans - that's what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/22-million-african-americans-that-s-what-we-are-africans-who-are-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/22-million-african-americans-that-s-what-we-are-africans-who-are-in/#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 } } ] } ```