--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the government can't get the black man…" description: "\"If the government can't get the black man justice, then it's time for the black man to get some justice for himself.\" — Malcolm X" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/017/malcolm-x-213_black_if-the-government-can-t-get-the-black-ma_3189846.jpg" --- # If the government can't get the black man justice, then… ![“If the government can't get the black man justice, then it's time for the black man to get some justice for himself.” quote by Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/017/malcolm-x-213_black_if-the-government-can-t-get-the-black-ma_3189846.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/017/malcolm-x-213_black_if-the-government-can-t-get-the-black-ma_3189846.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/017/malcolm-x-213_black_if-the-government-can-t-get-the-black-ma_3189846.jpg) > “If the government can't get the black man justice, then it's time for the black man to get some justice for himself.” [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. When legal systems fail to protect a group, that group may feel compelled to seek justice independently. **In simple terms:** If the law fails, people may take justice into their own hands. Key Takeaway Consider lawful avenues for change. Themes justice rights self‑determination Mood determated urgent Type political activist When to use this quote - activism - community organizing - legal reform - self‑protection Key Concepts civil rights empowerment self‑defense Questions to Reflect On - What non‑violent strategies can address systemic injustice? - How can communities build power without resorting to violence? A Different Perspective May lead to violence and undermine rule of law. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-man/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-black-907156/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-time-948734/) [Man Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-justice-848853/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [As a result of the policies of my government, black money in real estate sector has declined substantially, the prices of houses have come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-nath-kovind/as-a-result-of-the-policies-of-my-government-black-money-in-real/) [Ram Nath Kovind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-nath-kovind/) > [We want equality for everyone and justice when it's time for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/we-want-equality-for-everyone-and-justice-when-it-s-time-for-that/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) > [“I’ve come to recognize that questions of law and justice are at the same time questions of power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-vollmann/i-ve-come-to-recognize-that-questions-of-law-and-justice-are-at-the/) [William T. Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/) > [In March of 1933 we witnessed a revolution in manner, in mores, in the definition of government. What before had been black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-celler/in-march-of-1933-we-witnessed-a-revolution-in-manner-in-mores-in-the/) [Emanuel Celler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-celler/) > [If some black man go out and start something, a riot or something or, I'm not going to jump in it and get killed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/if-some-black-man-go-out-and-start-something-a-riot-or-something-or-i/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Im happy to be black. I am what I am, Im doing very well in my life, and Im thankful to God for that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ll-cool-j/im-happy-to-be-black-i-am-what-i-am-im-doing-very-well-in-my-life-and/) [LL Cool J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ll-cool-j/) > [One man's justice is another's injustice; one man's beauty another's ugliness; one man's wisdom anpther's folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/one-man-s-justice-is-another-s-injustice-one-man-s-beauty-another-s/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man without justice is a beast, and a man who would make himself a beast forgets the pain of being a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/a-man-without-justice-is-a-beast-and-a-man-who-would-make-himself-a/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [No point is of more importance than that the right of impeachment should be continued. Shall any man be above Justice?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/no-point-is-of-more-importance-than-that-the-right-of-impeachment/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [“Shall any man be above justice? Above all, shall that man be above it who can commit the most extensive injustice?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/shall-any-man-be-above-justice-above-all-shall-that-man-be-above-it/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Justice is the very last thing of all wherewith the universe concerns itself. It is equilibrium that absorbs its attention; and what we term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wisdom-and-destiny-maurice-maeterlinck/justice-is-the-very-last-thing-of-all-wherewith-the-universe-concerns/) [Wisdom and Destiny Maurice Maeterlinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wisdom-and-destiny-maurice-maeterlinck/) > [My dad spent most of the '50s and early '60s actually acting as sort of an advance man for the Justice Department, as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/my-dad-spent-most-of-the-50s-and-early-60s-actually-acting-as-sort-of/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [Justice Rehnquist was friendly and unpretentious. He wore scuffed Hush Puppy shoes. That was my first lesson. Clothes do not make the man. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roberts/justice-rehnquist-was-friendly-and-unpretentious-he-wore-scuffed-hush/) [John Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roberts/) > [If a man is at heart just, then in so far is he God; the safety of God, the immortality of God, the majesty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-a-man-is-at-heart-just-then-in-so-far-is-he-god-the-safety-of-god/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I would impress upon your minds the fact that if you want to do a man justice, you should believe what a man says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/i-would-impress-upon-your-minds-the-fact-that-if-you-want-to-do-a-man/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) ## 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. 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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 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. 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