--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Black men, you were once great; you shall…" description: "\"Black men, you were once great; you shall be great again. Lose not courage or faith, go forward.\" — Marcus Garvey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56a/marcus-garvey-3106_black_black-men-you-were-once-great-you-shall_400210.png" --- # Black men, you were once great; you shall be great again… ![“Black men, you were once great; you shall be great again. Lose not courage or faith, go forward.” quote by Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56a/marcus-garvey-3106_black_black-men-you-were-once-great-you-shall_400210.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56a/marcus-garvey-3106_black_black-men-you-were-once-great-you-shall_400210.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56a/marcus-garvey-3106_black_black-men-you-were-once-great-you-shall_400210.png) > “Black men, you were once great; you shall be great again. Lose not courage or faith, go forward.” [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encouragement for Black men to reclaim past greatness and pursue future success with courage. **In simple terms:** Black men can be great again with courage. Key Takeaway Foster resilience and community progress. Themes empowerment history hope Mood inspirational hopeful Type motivational historical When to use this quote - education - political activism - community building Key Concepts racial identity social justice leadership Questions to Reflect On - What actions can you take today? - How can you inspire others? A Different Perspective Challenges include systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Lose not courage, lose not faith, go forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/lose-not-courage-lose-not-faith-go-forward/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [It is such an abundance of idiocy that you lose courage. That you lose hope. I don't want to lose hope. I get through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/it-is-such-an-abundance-of-idiocy-that-you-lose-courage-that-you-lose/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [Black men of Carthage, Ethiopia, of Timbuktu and Alexandria gave the likes of civilization to this world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/black-men-of-carthage-ethiopia-of-timbuktu-and-alexandria-gave-the/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [Rise up Black Men, and take your stand. Reach up black men and women and pull all nature’s knowledge to you. Turn ye around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/rise-up-black-men-and-take-your-stand-reach-up-black-men-and-women/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [Jefferson Pierce is the epitome of what black men are: He loves his wife, his children, and the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/jefferson-pierce-is-the-epitome-of-what-black-men-are-he-loves-his/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [People are going to always have their opinions whether you date a black man or not. I've had girlfriends, family members comment on black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/people-are-going-to-always-have-their-opinions-whether-you-date-a/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [Black men, Indian men, and gay men have all have something in common: They do not provide an economic security blanket for women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/black-men-indian-men-and-gay-men-have-all-have-something-in-common/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [“Life is a battle between fear and courage. When fear wins, you lose; when courage wins, you struggle to get stronger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/life-is-a-battle-between-fear-and-courage-when-fear-wins-you-lose/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [“So many words get lost. They leave the mouth and lose their courage, wandering aimlessly until they are swept away into the gutter like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-kraus/so-many-words-get-lost-they-leave-the-mouth-and-lose-their-courage-2/) [Nicola Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-kraus/) > [“So many words get lost. They leave the mouth and lose their courage, wandering aimlessly until they are swept into the gutter like dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/so-many-words-get-lost-they-leave-the-mouth-and-lose-their-courage/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [No man was ever ruined from without; the final ruin comes from within, when you turn hopeless and lose courage!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-barr/no-man-was-ever-ruined-from-without-the-final-ruin-comes-from-within/) [Amelia Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-barr/) > [In the past someone told me that no matter what obstacle comes my way, to not give up and to never bow my head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-past-someone-told-me-that-no-matter-what-obstacle-comes-my-way/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You may lose faith. You may lose love. You may lose courage. But never lose hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-may-lose-faith-you-may-lose-love-you-may-lose-courage-but-never/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Before I could lose my courage, I said, "Don't I get a kiss for luck? It's kind of a tradition, right?" I figured she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/before-i-could-lose-my-courage-i-said-don-t-i-get-a-kiss-for-luck-it/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [If the disappointing starts to the time / when you lose your courage, and courage tolose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/if-the-disappointing-starts-to-the-time-when-you-lose-your-courage/) Mak\_786 ## More by Marcus Garvey > [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [We welcome the opposition of the world, because we are determined to see the battle through. Africa's battle-cry is not yet heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/we-welcome-the-opposition-of-the-world-because-we-are-determined-to/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [Wake up Ethiopia! Wake up Africa! Let us work towards the one glorious end of a free, redeemed and mighty nation. Let Africa be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/wake-up-ethiopia-wake-up-africa-let-us-work-towards-the-one-glorious/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [The thing to do is to get organized; keep separated and you will be exploited, you will be robbed, you will be killed. Get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/the-thing-to-do-is-to-get-organized-keep-separated-and-you-will-be/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [If you get up everyday and you don't learn you are a fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/if-you-get-up-everyday-and-you-don-t-learn-you-are-a-fool/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [It is only the belief and the confidence we have in a God why man is able to understand his own social institutions, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/it-is-only-the-belief-and-the-confidence-we-have-in-a-god-why-man-is/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [Behind the murder of millions of Negroes annually in Africa is the well organized system of exploitation by the alien intruders who desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/behind-the-murder-of-millions-of-negroes-annually-in-africa-is-the/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [Every man has a right to his own opinion. Every race has a right to its own action; therefore let no man persuade you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/every-man-has-a-right-to-his-own-opinion-every-race-has-a-right-to/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [Do not remove the kinks from your hair--remove them from your brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/do-not-remove-the-kinks-from-your-hair-remove-them-from-your-brain/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [I have no desire to take all black people back to Africa; there are blacks who are no good here and will likewise be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/i-have-no-desire-to-take-all-black-people-back-to-africa-there-are/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [God does not... give people positions or jobs or... good conditions such as they desire; they must do that for themselves.. God does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/god-does-not-give-people-positions-or-jobs-or-good-conditions-such-as/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [This propaganda of dis-associating Western Negroes from Africa is not a new one. For many years white propagandists have been printing tons of literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/this-propaganda-of-dis-associating-western-negroes-from-africa-is-not/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [There can be no peace among men and nations, so long as the strong continues to oppress the weak, so long as injustice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/there-can-be-no-peace-among-men-and-nations-so-long-as-the-strong/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [Take advantage of every opportunity; where there is none, make it for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/take-advantage-of-every-opportunity-where-there-is-none-make-it-for/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [She makes one happy, then miserable. You are to her kind, then unkind. Constant yet inconstant. Thus we have WOMAN. No real man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/she-makes-one-happy-then-miserable-you-are-to-her-kind-then-unkind/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) [Explore all 139 Marcus Garvey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) ## 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. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) Browse all 11,655 Black quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Black men, you were once great; you shall be great again. 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