--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The common goal of 22 million…" description: "\"The common goal of 22 million Afro-Americans is respect as human beings, the God-given right to be a human being. Our common goal is to obtain the huma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/malcolm-x-213_afros_the-common-goal-of-22-million-afro-ameri_465502.jpg" --- # The common goal of 22 million Afro-Americans is respect as… ![“The common goal of 22 million Afro-Americans is respect as human beings, the God-given right to be a human being. Our common goal is to obtain the human rights America has been denying us. We can never get civil rights in America until our human rights are first restored. We will never be…” quote by Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/malcolm-x-213_afros_the-common-goal-of-22-million-afro-ameri_465502.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/malcolm-x-213_afros_the-common-goal-of-22-million-afro-ameri_465502.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/malcolm-x-213_afros_the-common-goal-of-22-million-afro-ameri_465502.jpg) > “The common goal of 22 million Afro-Americans is respect as human beings, the God-given right to be a human being. Our common goal is to obtain the human rights America has been denying us. We can never get civil rights in America until our human rights are first restored. We will never be recognized as citizens there until we are first recognized as humans.” [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. Advocates that true civil rights stem from basic human rights and dignity, demanding recognition before legal equality. **In simple terms:** Human dignity precedes legal rights. Key Takeaway Demand basic human dignity first. Themes civil rights human dignity equality recognition Mood determined urgent Type political activist When to use this quote - activism - legal reform - community organizing - education campaigns Key Concepts human rights social justice recognition Questions to Reflect On - How can societies ensure human dignity is respected before granting rights? - What steps can individuals take to promote basic human rights? A Different Perspective Human rights alone may not guarantee immediate policy change without political will. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Civil Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-right/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Common goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-goal/) [Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-rights/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Social justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-justice/) ## Related quotes > [Only majorities can expand political rights in America's constitutional society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-barton/only-majorities-can-expand-political-rights-in-america-s/) [David Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-barton/) > [The truth is even though we sort of feel like we have equal rights in America, right under the surface we have huge issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/the-truth-is-even-though-we-sort-of-feel-like-we-have-equal-rights-in-2/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [Discrimination is discrimination no matter who the victim is, and it is always wrong. There are no special rights in America, despite the attempts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bond/discrimination-is-discrimination-no-matter-who-the-victim-is-and-it/) [Julian Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bond/) > [ I think whoever is the president \[he\] must guard your liberties, must not erode your rights in America. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-think-whoever-is-the-president-he-must-guard-your-liberties-must/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [During the 19th-century struggle for women's rights in America, many saw a competition between rights for black people and those for women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/during-the-19th-century-struggle-for-women-s-rights-in-america-many/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [Forget the methods or the differences in methods. As long as we agree that the thing that the Afro-American wants and needs is recognition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/forget-the-methods-or-the-differences-in-methods-as-long-as-we-agree/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“Humanity shares a common ancestry with all living things on Earth. We often share especially close intimacies with the microbial world. In fact, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-wilmoth-lerner/humanity-shares-a-common-ancestry-with-all-living-things-on-earth-we/) Brenda Wilmoth Lerner > [What I've learned is that at the end of the day, we are all human. We all have that in common.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/what-i-ve-learned-is-that-at-the-end-of-the-day-we-are-all-human-we/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [The right to be a cussed fool Is safe from all devices human, It's common (ez a gin'I rule) To every critter born of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/the-right-to-be-a-cussed-fool-is-safe-from-all-devices-human-it-s/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [America is a passionate idea or it is nothing. America is a human brotherhood or it is chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/america-is-a-passionate-idea-or-it-is-nothing-america-is-a-human/) [Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/) > [Irrespective of the conflict with America it is a human duty to show sympathy with the American people, and be with them at these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muammar-al-gaddafi/irrespective-of-the-conflict-with-america-it-is-a-human-duty-to-show/) [Muammar al-Gaddafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muammar-al-gaddafi/) > [“If I may be permitted to liken America to the human body, then I think it is fair to say that California is its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-clarkson/if-i-may-be-permitted-to-liken-america-to-the-human-body-then-i-think/) [Jeremy Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-clarkson/) > [Fortunately, America remains a robust democracy, where most individuals are not afraid to speak out. What we have done in Iraq has, however, compromised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/fortunately-america-remains-a-robust-democracy-where-most-individuals/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [The separating of a section of America for Afro- Americans is similar to expecting a heaven in the sky somewhere after you die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-separating-of-a-section-of-america-for-afro-americans-is-similar/) [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/) ## 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 Afros quotes > [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/) > [I always thought he gave me that name because I have a kind of outgoing or sunny disposition. And in those days I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surya-das/i-always-thought-he-gave-me-that-name-because-i-have-a-kind-of/) [Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/surya-das/) > [Malcolm X broke with the N.O.I. in March 1964, and in that last 11 chaotic months, he spent most of the time outside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manning-marable/malcolm-x-broke-with-the-n-o-i-in-march-1964-and-in-that-last-11/) [Manning Marable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manning-marable/) > [The final test of Afro-American studies will be the extent to which they rid the minds of whites and blacks alike of false learning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-saunders-redding/the-final-test-of-afro-american-studies-will-be-the-extent-to-which/) [Jay Saunders Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-saunders-redding/) > [When I say Afro-American aesthetic, I'm not just talking about the United States, I'm talking about the Americas. People in the Latin countries read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/when-i-say-afro-american-aesthetic-i-m-not-just-talking-about-the/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [The miscegenation laws of the South only operate against the legitimate union of the races; they leave the white man free to seduce all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-miscegenation-laws-of-the-south-only-operate-against-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The hearts of Afro-American women are too warm and too large for race hatred. Long suffering has so chastened them that they are developing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-barrier-williams/the-hearts-of-afro-american-women-are-too-warm-and-too-large-for-race/) Fannie Barrier Williams > [I had the afro when I was in high school. I had the flattop during a short period in the early '90s. And I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-meadows/i-had-the-afro-when-i-was-in-high-school-i-had-the-flattop-during-a/) [Tim Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-meadows/) > [Even his hair was bigger—a massive globe of blue-black frizz so thick that his lobster-claw horns appeared to be drowning as they tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/even-his-hair-was-bigger-a-massive-globe-of-blue-black-frizz-so-thick/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Music really influenced me when I was growing up. I did go through a Jimi Hendrix phase. My hair was naturally quite afro, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mccrory/music-really-influenced-me-when-i-was-growing-up-i-did-go-through-a/) [Helen McCrory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mccrory/) > [The Afro-American is not a bestial race. If this work can contribute in any way towards proving this, and at the same time arouse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-afro-american-is-not-a-bestial-race-if-this-work-can-contribute/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [Afro-Caribbean influences are in me as a creative being the same way Spanish influences were in Picasso's work. I think the notion of labels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-fagan/afro-caribbean-influences-are-in-me-as-a-creative-being-the-same-way/) Garth Fagan > [In Italy, I had an Afro, and a lot of the kids came up and felt my hair. It really was funny. I wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/in-italy-i-had-an-afro-and-a-lot-of-the-kids-came-up-and-felt-my-hair/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [The separating of a section of America for Afro- Americans is similar to expecting a heaven in the sky somewhere after you die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-separating-of-a-section-of-america-for-afro-americans-is-similar/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The further jazz moves away from the stark blue continuum and the collective realities of Afro-American and American life, the more it moves into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amiri-baraka/the-further-jazz-moves-away-from-the-stark-blue-continuum-and-the/) [Amiri Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amiri-baraka/) Browse all 77 Afros quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The common goal of 22 million Afro-Americans is respect as human beings, the God-given right to be a human being. 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