Accomplished Quote by Mary Church Terrell
“... no young colored person in the United States today can truthfully offer as an excuse for lack of ambition or aspiration that members of his race have accomplished so little, he is discouraged from attempting anything himself. For there is scarcely a field of human endeavor which colored people have been allowed to enter in which there is not at least one worthy representative.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Address to National Association of Colored Women, 1905
The quote argues that systemic barriers, not personal lack, explain limited achievements among Black people, urging self‑belief despite discrimination.
In simple terms: Systemic racism limits opportunities, not personal ambition.
Key Takeaway
Believe in yourself despite barriers.
Themes
race
ambition
systemic oppression
self‑efficacy
Mood
determined
reflective
Type
motivational
historical
When to use this quote
- education
- career advancement
- political activism
- community leadership
Key Concepts
social justice
psychology of motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions dismantle these barriers?
- What personal strategies foster resilience?
A Different Perspective
It overlooks individual agency and diverse experiences within the Black community.
![“[U]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle the apparatus of oppression.” quote by Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d7b/shulamith-firestone-12980_accomplished_u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together_5485.jpg)
