--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is precisely because education is the…" description: "\"It is precisely because education is the road to equality and citizenship, that it has been made more elusive for Negroes than many other rights. The w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/296/martin-luther-king-jr-127_citizenship_it-is-precisely-because-education-is-the_732047.png" --- # It is precisely because education is the road to equality… ![“It is precisely because education is the road to equality and citizenship, that it has been made more elusive for Negroes than many other rights. The walling off of Negroes from equal education is part of the historical design to submerge him in second class status. Therefore, as Negroes have…” quote by Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/296/martin-luther-king-jr-127_citizenship_it-is-precisely-because-education-is-the_732047.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/296/martin-luther-king-jr-127_citizenship_it-is-precisely-because-education-is-the_732047.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/296/martin-luther-king-jr-127_citizenship_it-is-precisely-because-education-is-the_732047.png) > “It is precisely because education is the road to equality and citizenship, that it has been made more elusive for Negroes than many other rights. The walling off of Negroes from equal education is part of the historical design to submerge him in second class status. Therefore, as Negroes have struggled to be free they have had to fight for the opportunity for a decent education.” [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Education is a pathway to equality, yet systemic barriers have historically denied Black people equal access, making education a contested right. **In simple terms:** Education should equalize, but racism blocks it. Key Takeaway Advocate for equitable educational policies. Themes equality education racism civil rights justice Mood determined hopeful urgent Type activist historical When to use this quote - public schooling - community organizing - policy advocacy - legal challenges Key Concepts structural inequality social mobility policy reform historical oppression Questions to Reflect On - What policies can dismantle educational inequities today? - How does education empower citizenship? A Different Perspective The claim may overlook progress made since the speech. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Class status](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-status/) [Decent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decent/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Elusive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elusive/) [Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal/) [Equal education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-education/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Negroes Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negroes-equal-5733152/) [Negroes Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negroes-rights-5733151/) [Negroes Struggled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negroes-struggled-5733153/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Walling Negroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walling-negroes-5733154/) ## Related quotes > [The promise of equal educational opportunity envisioned by the Brown decision remains unfulfilled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-scott/the-promise-of-equal-educational-opportunity-envisioned-by-the-brown/) [Bobby Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-scott/) > [“To confuse compulsory schooling with equal educational opportunity is like confusing organized religion with spirituality. 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Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [Women will be no longer made the slaves of, or dependent upon men...They will be equal in education, rights, privileges and personal liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/women-will-be-no-longer-made-the-slaves-of-or-dependent-upon-men-they/) [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) > [Over the course of more than 200 years, it has found a right to equal education regardless of race. 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Equal education opportunities for all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/the-old-fundamental-principles-must-continue-to-apply-even-in-our/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [Free healthcare and free and equal education and peace are about the only things I passionately believe in, and I think if you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-montgomery/free-healthcare-and-free-and-equal-education-and-peace-are-about-the/) [Robert Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-montgomery/) ## More by Martin Luther King, Jr > [The strong man holds in a living blend strongly marked opposites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-strong-man-holds-in-a-living-blend-strongly-marked-opposites/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Our nation was born in genocide when it embraced the doctrine that the original American, the Indian, was an inferior race. ... We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/our-nation-was-born-in-genocide-when-it-embraced-the-doctrine-that/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somewhere-somebody-must-have-some-sense-men-must-see-that-force/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/somebody-must-have-sense-enough-and-morality-enough-to-cut-off-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Darkness is only driven out with light, not more darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/darkness-is-only-driven-out-with-light-not-more-darkness/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [What seems so necessary today may not even be desirable tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/what-seems-so-necessary-today-may-not-even-be-desirable-tomorrow/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The Negro cannot win the respect of his oppressor by acquiescing; he merely increases the oppressor's arrogance and contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-negro-cannot-win-the-respect-of-his-oppressor-by-acquiescing-he/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The majority of the Negroes who took part in the year-long boycott of Montgomery's buses were poor and untutored; but they understood the essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-majority-of-the-negroes-who-took-part-in-the-year-long-boycott-of/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity and it has worth,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/whenever-you-are-engaged-in-work-that-serves-humanity-and-is-for-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-have-a-dream-that-one-day-even-the-state-of-mississippi-a-desert/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) [Explore all 1,210 Martin Luther King, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) ## More Citizenship quotes > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. 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