--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a white man puts his arm around me…" description: "\"If a white man puts his arm around me voluntarily, that's brotherhood.\" — Malcolm X" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/malcolm-x-213_arms_if-a-white-man-puts-his-arm-around-me-vo_1468737.jpg" --- # If a white man puts his arm around me voluntarily, that's… ![“If a white man puts his arm around me voluntarily, that's brotherhood.” quote by Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/malcolm-x-213_arms_if-a-white-man-puts-his-arm-around-me-vo_1468737.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/malcolm-x-213_arms_if-a-white-man-puts-his-arm-around-me-vo_1468737.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/malcolm-x-213_arms_if-a-white-man-puts-his-arm-around-me-vo_1468737.jpg) > “If a white man puts his arm around me voluntarily, that's brotherhood.” [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. A voluntary gesture of solidarity from a white person signifies true brotherhood. **In simple terms:** Brotherhood is shown through willing solidarity. Key Takeaway Seek mutual, across races. Themes solidarity race relations brotherhood equality Mood determined inspirational Type political social When to use this quote - Community organizing - dialogue circles - joint activism Key Concepts Civil rights social justice interpersonal trust Questions to Reflect On - What actions beyond gestures demonstrate genuine solidarity? - How can you foster lasting brotherhood? A Different Perspective Symbolic acts may not reflect deeper systemic change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brotherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherhood/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [White man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-man/) ## Related quotes > [If, if a white man puts his arm around me voluntarily, that's brotherhood. But if you - if you hold a gun on him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-if-a-white-man-puts-his-arm-around-me-voluntarily-that-s/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [If a white man puts his arm around me voluntarily, that's brotherhood. But if you - if you hold a gun on him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-a-white-man-puts-his-arm-around-me-voluntarily-that-s-brotherhood-2/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [History rewards all research. And history fails to record one single instance in which the white man - as a people - did good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/history-rewards-all-research-and-history-fails-to-record-one-single/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Until the image of the black man in the mind of the black man has been changed, there will always be delinquency, parental and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/until-the-image-of-the-black-man-in-the-mind-of-the-black-man-has/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The Honorable Elijah Muhammad says that if the - what should happen is the black man himself should learn how to develop himself, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-honorable-elijah-muhammad-says-that-if-the-what-should-happen-is/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [History proves that the white man is a devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/history-proves-that-the-white-man-is-a-devil/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The white man knows what a revolution is. He knows that the Black Revolution is worldwide in scope and in nature. The Black Revolution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-white-man-knows-what-a-revolution-is-he-knows-that-the-black/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I don't trust any white man who teaches Negroes to turn the other cheek or to be nonviolent, which means to be defenseless in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-don-t-trust-any-white-man-who-teaches-negroes-to-turn-the-other/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [One thing that the white man can never give the black man is self respect. The black man in the ghettos, have to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/one-thing-that-the-white-man-can-never-give-the-black-man-is-self/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The Negro fought and bled and died in every war the white man waged, and he still won't give you justice. You nursed his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-negro-fought-and-bled-and-died-in-every-war-the-white-man-waged/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [God is about to eliminate the white man from this earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/god-is-about-to-eliminate-the-white-man-from-this-earth/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Since the white people collectively have practiced the worst form of hatred against Negroes in America and they know that they are guilty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/since-the-white-people-collectively-have-practiced-the-worst-form-of/) [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## 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 Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a white man puts his arm around me voluntarily, that's brotherhood.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Malcolm X" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-a-white-man-puts-his-arm-around-me-voluntarily-that-s-brotherhood/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-a-white-man-puts-his-arm-around-me-voluntarily-that-s-brotherhood/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/malcolm-x-213_arms_if-a-white-man-puts-his-arm-around-me-vo_1468737.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/malcolm-x-213_arms_if-a-white-man-puts-his-arm-around-me-vo_1468737.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/827/malcolm-x-213_arms_if-a-white-man-puts-his-arm-around-me-vo_1468737.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If a white man puts his arm around me voluntarily, that's brotherhood.” — 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": "If a white man puts his...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-a-white-man-puts-his-arm-around-me-voluntarily-that-s-brotherhood/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-a-white-man-puts-his-arm-around-me-voluntarily-that-s-brotherhood/#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 } } ] } ```