--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The other slaves in the field never let…" description: "\"The other slaves in the field never let that house slave knew - know what they were really thinking. If the house slave said, well one of these days al..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/malcolm-x-213_america_the-other-slaves-in-the-field-never-let_2004911.jpg" --- # The other slaves in the field never let that house slave… ![“The other slaves in the field never let that house slave knew - know what they were really thinking. If the house slave said, well one of these days all of us will live in the plantation, they said, uh huh. They went along with him. But if you came up to them and said, let's go, they would be gone…” quote by Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/malcolm-x-213_america_the-other-slaves-in-the-field-never-let_2004911.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/malcolm-x-213_america_the-other-slaves-in-the-field-never-let_2004911.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5b/malcolm-x-213_america_the-other-slaves-in-the-field-never-let_2004911.jpg) > “The other slaves in the field never let that house slave knew - know what they were really thinking. If the house slave said, well one of these days all of us will live in the plantation, they said, uh huh. They went along with him. But if you came up to them and said, let's go, they would be gone just like that.And in, in America you have the same situation.You have the vast masses who are still slaves.” [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. People may appear compliant under oppression, but true freedom requires active resistance. **In simple terms:** Compliance hides oppression; action is needed. Key Takeaway Encourage critical thinking and collective action. Themes oppression resistance social awareness Mood provocative urgent Type political social commentary When to use this quote - community organizing - education workshops - political activism Key Concepts agency collective action psychology of compliance Questions to Reflect On - What motivates people to resist? - How can allies support hidden dissenters? A Different Perspective Not all oppressed individuals can or; fear may suppress dissent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fields/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Plantation Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plantation-said-3548465/) [Plantations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plantations/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slave Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave-knew-3548463/) [Slave Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave-said-443724/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves/) [Slaves Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves-field-3548464/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [These days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/these-days/) [They said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/they-said/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [“I am free. I am ransomed. I've never felt this way before, like a slave set free who was born a slave and never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-e-peretti/i-am-free-i-am-ransomed-i-ve-never-felt-this-way-before-like-a-slave/) [Frank E. Peretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-e-peretti/) > [I WAS born a slave; but I never knew it till six years of happy childhood had passed away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-ann-jacobs/i-was-born-a-slave-but-i-never-knew-it-till-six-years-of-happy/) [Harriet Ann Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-ann-jacobs/) > [ The same thing that Uncle Tom did on the plantation before \[Abe\] Lincoln issued the so-called Emancipation Proclamation.I have no thinking on the matter.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-same-thing-that-uncle-tom-did-on-the-plantation-before-abe/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Just as Uncle Tom, back during slavery used to keep the Negroes from resisting the bloodhound or resisting the Ku Klux Klan by teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/just-as-uncle-tom-back-during-slavery-used-to-keep-the-negroes-from/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [If you read the story of slavery and see the part that the Uncle Tom played in the plantation, and then you see how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-you-read-the-story-of-slavery-and-see-the-part-that-the-uncle-tom/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [You have the upper class Negroes who are the modern day Uncle Toms or the 20th century Uncle Toms. They don't wear a handkerchief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/you-have-the-upper-class-negroes-who-are-the-modern-day-uncle-toms-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“Ah, careful there!” The man thrust his arm behind my back and braced me. “If you fall over, you might hit your head. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-m-friesner/ah-careful-there-the-man-thrust-his-arm-behind-my-back-and-braced-me/) [Esther M. Friesner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-m-friesner/) > [“There was no slave,’ said Laurent. ‘He never existed. I don’t know what manner of man stands before me now. All I know is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/there-was-no-slave-said-laurent-he-never-existed-i-don-t-know-what/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [Someone is always at my elbow reminding me that I am the grand-daughter of slaves. It fails to register depression with me. Slaver y…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/someone-is-always-at-my-elbow-reminding-me-that-i-am-the-grand/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [“A free black walks different than a slave,” he said. “White people recognize it immediately, even if they don’t know it. Walks different, talks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/a-free-black-walks-different-than-a-slave-he-said-white-people/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“Anybody that competes with slaves becomes a slave," said Harrison thickly, and he left.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/anybody-that-competes-with-slaves-becomes-a-slave-said-harrison/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Esca tossed the slender papyrus roll onto the cot, and set his own hands over Marcus's. "I have not served the Centurion because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-sutcliff/esca-tossed-the-slender-papyrus-roll-onto-the-cot-and-set-his-own/) [Rosemary Sutcliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-sutcliff/) > [“I didn’t believe that these nice liberals would have missed seeing the film 12 Years a Slave, in which Solomon Northup’s friend Patsey was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/i-didn-t-believe-that-these-nice-liberals-would-have-missed-seeing/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [I remember I was up for the role of Jim in 'Huck Finn,' and because I went to Harvard and Yale, they didn't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-b-vance/i-remember-i-was-up-for-the-role-of-jim-in-huck-finn-and-because-i/) [Courtney B. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-b-vance/) > [“I’m not your slave,’ said Damen. ‘I’m a man.’ Don’t”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/i-m-not-your-slave-said-damen-i-m-a-man-don-t/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) ## 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 America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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