--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My father, Melvin van Peebles, and my…" description: "\"My father, Melvin van Peebles, and my mother were both very active politically when I was a kid. The first time I was allowed to stay up late was to at..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/mario-van-peebles-29944_active_my-father-melvin-van-peebles-and-my-moth_1756486.jpg" --- # My father, Melvin van Peebles, and my mother were both… ![“My father, Melvin van Peebles, and my mother were both very active politically when I was a kid. The first time I was allowed to stay up late was to attend a demonstration.” quote by Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/mario-van-peebles-29944_active_my-father-melvin-van-peebles-and-my-moth_1756486.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/mario-van-peebles-29944_active_my-father-melvin-van-peebles-and-my-moth_1756486.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/mario-van-peebles-29944_active_my-father-melvin-van-peebles-and-my-moth_1756486.jpg) > “My father, Melvin van Peebles, and my mother were both very active politically when I was a kid. The first time I was allowed to stay up late was to attend a demonstration.” [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Growing up in a politically active family shaped his early awareness of civic engagement. **In simple terms:** Family politics influenced his worldview. Key Takeaway Recognize how family values shape your civic outlook. Themes family politics upbringing civic engagement Mood reflective nostalgic Type personal narrative reflective When to use this quote - childhood activism - family discussions - community events Key Concepts socialization political socialization Questions to Reflect On - How did your parents' activism affect your choices? - Do you feel pressure to follow their path? A Different Perspective Family influence may limit exposure to diverse viewpoints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Demonstration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demonstration/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not very active politically. The causes I work on offer immediate, practical, accessible help, and politics has never meant that to me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-turner/i-m-not-very-active-politically-the-causes-i-work-on-offer-immediate/) [Kathleen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-turner/) > [We've never been as active politically as we have been as artists. But politics always brush up against the arts, oh, about every four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/we-ve-never-been-as-active-politically-as-we-have-been-as-artists-but/) [Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/) > [I think I should be active politically. Because I look upon myself as a politician. That's not a dirty work you know. Some people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/i-think-i-should-be-active-politically-because-i-look-upon-myself-as/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [As I say, I as an abstract artist was active politically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-krasner/as-i-say-i-as-an-abstract-artist-was-active-politically/) [Lee Krasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-krasner/) > [We have quite a few political songs: 'Channel Z,' let's 'Keep This Party Going' on. Our lyrics aren't too hit-you-over-the-head, but they have political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-pierson/we-have-quite-a-few-political-songs-channel-z-let-s-keep-this-party/) [Kate Pierson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-pierson/) > [Stan Van Gundy is a top-five coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-rose/stan-van-gundy-is-a-top-five-coach/) [Jalen Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-rose/) > [I'll probably sway towards Van Persie, but Van Nistelrooy is an absolute legend as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mctominay/i-ll-probably-sway-towards-van-persie-but-van-nistelrooy-is-an/) [Scott McTominay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mctominay/) > [I wouldn't mind meeting Eddie Van Halen. That would be great. We need to invite him to a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-unser/i-wouldn-t-mind-meeting-eddie-van-halen-that-would-be-great-we-need/) [Al Unser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-unser/) > [A talib fires three shots at point-blank range at three girls in a van and doesn't kill any of them. This seems an unlikely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/a-talib-fires-three-shots-at-point-blank-range-at-three-girls-in-a/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [I've had a lot of writers, in particular, who said they got into writing because of the 'Van Dyke Show.' They said it looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-writers-in-particular-who-said-they-got-into/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I still feel very close to the people I wrote shows with and some of the people I toured with. I feel very close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adsit/i-still-feel-very-close-to-the-people-i-wrote-shows-with-and-some-of/) [Scott Adsit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adsit/) > [I was 18 when I did 'The Amanda Show,' and I was 19 when I did 'MadTV,' and I was in way over my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taran-killam/i-was-18-when-i-did-the-amanda-show-and-i-was-19-when-i-did-madtv-and/) [Taran Killam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taran-killam/) > [The toughest trail I ever ran was the Escarpment in the Catskills of New York State. This was an 18-mile race through Rip Van…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/the-toughest-trail-i-ever-ran-was-the-escarpment-in-the-catskills-of/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [Mark my words, Michael Van Gerwen will knock Phil Taylor off his perch one day and be the best darts player on the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bristow/mark-my-words-michael-van-gerwen-will-knock-phil-taylor-off-his-perch/) [Eric Bristow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bristow/) > [I've always been really fascinated by Vincent van Gogh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/i-ve-always-been-really-fascinated-by-vincent-van-gogh/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) ## More by Mario Van Peebles > [If I or any other black can deliver at the box office, I'll get a lot of work. Too many young actors, regardless of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/if-i-or-any-other-black-can-deliver-at-the-box-office-i-ll-get-a-lot/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [There is definitely places in America where, if you're born into that environment, your chances of getting out are really, really limited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/there-is-definitely-places-in-america-where-if-you-re-born-into-that/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [I went from being 'Mario who?' to 'Mario baby!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/i-went-from-being-mario-who-to-mario-baby/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [In some ways truth is stranger than fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/in-some-ways-truth-is-stranger-than-fiction/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [No matter what color you are, if you mentor some little boy or girl, you make a huge difference in their lives because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/no-matter-what-color-you-are-if-you-mentor-some-little-boy-or-girl/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [My father told me you have two loves in your life: What you do and the people youre with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/my-father-told-me-you-have-two-loves-in-your-life-what-you-do-and-the/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [We think birth is a miracle and death is a tragedy, but really they're flip sides of the same coin - anything born is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/we-think-birth-is-a-miracle-and-death-is-a-tragedy-but-really-they-re/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [History is written by the winners. The books say the Indians were bad guys and the whites just needed a little land. It's like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/history-is-written-by-the-winners-the-books-say-the-indians-were-bad/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [I had unusual parents. We'd been to Europe. We'd been in the theater. We were sort of like the Addams Family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/i-had-unusual-parents-we-d-been-to-europe-we-d-been-in-the-theater-we/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [I'm not in business to make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/i-m-not-in-business-to-make-money/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [My dad always said there's four phases in an actor/director's life. There's 'Mario Who?' There's 'Get me Mario!' 'Get me a young Mario,' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/my-dad-always-said-there-s-four-phases-in-an-actor-director-s-life/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [My father told me you have two loves in your life: What you do and the people you're with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/my-father-told-me-you-have-two-loves-in-your-life-what-you-do-and-the-2/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [When I came out to Hollywood, I discovered the perfect place for my creative madness - Cannon Pictures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/when-i-came-out-to-hollywood-i-discovered-the-perfect-place-for-my/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [When you make a film that is based in reality, reality will come up all around it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/when-you-make-a-film-that-is-based-in-reality-reality-will-come-up/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) > [People are now looking at the world in terms of axis of evil and evil-doers and by logical extension good-doers, and that's a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/people-are-now-looking-at-the-world-in-terms-of-axis-of-evil-and-evil/) [Mario Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) [Explore all 18 Mario Van Peebles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/) ## More Active quotes > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [We in US need active intelligence: people being on the streets, people being able to stop and ask questions of individuals that they suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/we-in-us-need-active-intelligence-people-being-on-the-streets-people/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I eat healthy most of the time. Whole foods are the best for you when you are super active, so I get plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witney-carson/i-eat-healthy-most-of-the-time-whole-foods-are-the-best-for-you-when/) [Witney Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witney-carson/) > [Art shows us how to see things that are constructive and good, and to be an active part of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/art-shows-us-how-to-see-things-that-are-constructive-and-good-and-to/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. Love is not fundamentally a sweet feeling; not, at heart, a matter of sentiment, attachment, or being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-heyward/love-like-truth-and-beauty-is-concrete-love-is-not-fundamentally-a/) [Carter Heyward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-heyward/) > [Studying Sol's interior by looking for analogous patterns on its incandescent face is known as helioseismology, an active - if largely unpronounceable - research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/studying-sol-s-interior-by-looking-for-analogous-patterns-on-its/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [I stayed in L.A. long enough to get on my feet, and then I moved back to New York. The reason I moved here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/i-stayed-in-l-a-long-enough-to-get-on-my-feet-and-then-i-moved-back/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [The answer to any challenge you are having has nothing to do with God's willingness to help. It has to do with your acceptance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/the-answer-to-any-challenge-you-are-having-has-nothing-to-do-with-god/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [Pete Townsend for me was a huge influence. Because essentially they were a three-piece band and the way he structured his chords and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/pete-townsend-for-me-was-a-huge-influence-because-essentially-they/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [There is an enemy. There is an intelligent, active, malign force working against us. Step one is to recognize this. This recognition alone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/there-is-an-enemy-there-is-an-intelligent-active-malign-force-working/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [Few, if any, creatures are equally active all night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/few-if-any-creatures-are-equally-active-all-night/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [You need to enjoy yourself and just get into the routine of keeping fit and enjoying being active. That's always easier once you've made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-brownlee/you-need-to-enjoy-yourself-and-just-get-into-the-routine-of-keeping/) [Alistair Brownlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-brownlee/) Browse all 2,212 Active quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My father, Melvin van Peebles, and my mother were both very active politically when I was a kid. The first time I was allowed to stay up late was to attend a demonstration.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mario Van Peebles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/my-father-melvin-van-peebles-and-my-mother-were-both-very-active/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Active" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/my-father-melvin-van-peebles-and-my-mother-were-both-very-active/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/mario-van-peebles-29944_active_my-father-melvin-van-peebles-and-my-moth_1756486.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/mario-van-peebles-29944_active_my-father-melvin-van-peebles-and-my-moth_1756486.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/mario-van-peebles-29944_active_my-father-melvin-van-peebles-and-my-moth_1756486.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My father, Melvin van Peebles, and my mother were both very active politically when I was a kid. The first…” — Mario Van Peebles", "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": "Mario Van Peebles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-van-peebles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My father, Melvin van Peebles, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/my-father-melvin-van-peebles-and-my-mother-were-both-very-active/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-van-peebles/my-father-melvin-van-peebles-and-my-mother-were-both-very-active/#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 } } ] } ```