--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many activists don't want to hear about…" description: "\"Many activists don't want to hear about some grand narrative, one that could unify all of our struggles. So the major issue that needs to be addressed ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f55/michael-yates-21574_activism_many-activists-don-t-want-to-hear-about_224907.jpg" --- # Many activists don't want to hear about some grand… ![“Many activists don't want to hear about some grand narrative, one that could unify all of our struggles. So the major issue that needs to be addressed is how to get people to see that there is indeed a grand narrative which just happens to be true.” quote by Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f55/michael-yates-21574_activism_many-activists-don-t-want-to-hear-about_224907.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f55/michael-yates-21574_activism_many-activists-don-t-want-to-hear-about_224907.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f55/michael-yates-21574_activism_many-activists-don-t-want-to-hear-about_224907.jpg) > “Many activists don't want to hear about some grand narrative, one that could unify all of our struggles. So the major issue that needs to be addressed is how to get people to see that there is indeed a grand narrative which just happens to be true.” [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People resist broad unifying stories, yet a shared narrative can unite diverse struggles; the challenge is making it visible. **In simple terms:** Grand narratives can unite, but are often ignored. Key Takeaway Communicate inclusive stories. Themes unity narrative activism Mood inspirational hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - community organizing - policy advocacy - education curricula - media campaigns Key Concepts social movements collective identity Questions to Reflect On - What narrative could bridge your cause with others? - How do you address dissent to a unifying story? A Different Perspective Not everyone will accept a single story. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activism/) [Activist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activist/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) ## Related quotes > [“The great metanarrative of progress and conquest has run aground on the shoals of environmental concern and a loss of confidence in science and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-b-robinson/the-great-metanarrative-of-progress-and-conquest-has-run-aground-on/) Anthony B. Robinson > [ My studio practice is a - I suppose a bit more like \[Thomas\] Gainsborough or \[Peter Paul\] Rubens in the sense that any artist… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/my-studio-practice-is-a-i-suppose-a-bit-more-like-thomas-gainsborough/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [Writing is a process of discovering. I could never outline a narrative; that just sounds boring. There's no joy of discovery in what you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-shacochis/writing-is-a-process-of-discovering-i-could-never-outline-a-narrative/) [Bob Shacochis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-shacochis/) > [“If you don't have a narrative, just make one up. You can always change it when you have more clarity. Any narrative beats no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-r-w-lee-2/if-you-don-t-have-a-narrative-just-make-one-up-you-can-always-change/) [L. R. W. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-r-w-lee-2/) > [I was born in the era of the novel. I've written many, as well as collections of poetry, and essays for mouthing off. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-baggott/i-was-born-in-the-era-of-the-novel-i-ve-written-many-as-well-as/) [Julianna Baggott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-baggott/) > [My job as a film editor is to construct a dramatic narrative because otherwise it's just a chaotic arrangement of sequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-wiseman/my-job-as-a-film-editor-is-to-construct-a-dramatic-narrative-because/) [Frederick Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-wiseman/) > [I have a theory that, for people of color or others who have been cut out of the master narrative, just telling your personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-adiele/i-have-a-theory-that-for-people-of-color-or-others-who-have-been-cut/) [Faith Adiele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-adiele/) > [The way that I see third person is it's actually first person. Writing for me is all voice work. Third person narrative is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/the-way-that-i-see-third-person-is-it-s-actually-first-person-writing/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > ["Statesman" gives the impression that every time a major issue comes up, I'll be popping off. And that's not what's going to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/statesman-gives-the-impression-that-every-time-a-major-issue-comes-up/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [In many places where coffee is grown, deforestation is a major issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/in-many-places-where-coffee-is-grown-deforestation-is-a-major-issue/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [The nature of search engines is that they can make a major issue out of something small that no person would otherwise be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mosley/the-nature-of-search-engines-is-that-they-can-make-a-major-issue-out/) [Max Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mosley/) > [How you define yourself is a major issue for young people and adults alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mckay/how-you-define-yourself-is-a-major-issue-for-young-people-and-adults/) [Jim McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mckay/) > [The education of doctors is a major issue that needs to be addressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasuku-honjo/the-education-of-doctors-is-a-major-issue-that-needs-to-be-addressed/) [Tasuku Honjo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasuku-honjo/) > [Immigration is the major issue everywhere, and even the countries where it isn't the number one issue, it ends up becoming one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-murray/immigration-is-the-major-issue-everywhere-and-even-the-countries/) [Douglas Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-murray/) > [Climate change is not a major issue because it will cause sea level rises or temperature increases, since we know how to live at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shailesh-rao/climate-change-is-not-a-major-issue-because-it-will-cause-sea-level/) [Shailesh Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shailesh-rao/) ## More by Michael Yates > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [If you do keep the faith and continue to be radical, very bad things can and do happen to you. At the very least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/if-you-do-keep-the-faith-and-continue-to-be-radical-very-bad-things/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [What needs to be grasped is that the system itself is the cause of all of the misery in the world. This is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/what-needs-to-be-grasped-is-that-the-system-itself-is-the-cause-of/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [I still believe that workers must be the basic force which must organize and eventually transform society (along with peasants in poor countries). This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/i-still-believe-that-workers-must-be-the-basic-force-which-must/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [We must not forget either that some of the system's resilience is due to its ability to coopt people with money and prestige. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/we-must-not-forget-either-that-some-of-the-system-s-resilience-is-due/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Capitalism is, in Mao's language, the main contradiction in the world today and so our efforts have to be focused on ending this system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/capitalism-is-in-mao-s-language-the-main-contradiction-in-the-world/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [I am sure that the experience of growing up in the heart of the working class and learning from my parents, and especially from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/i-am-sure-that-the-experience-of-growing-up-in-the-heart-of-the/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [We are all, after all, just human beings, and most of us have a lot in common.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/we-are-all-after-all-just-human-beings-and-most-of-us-have-a-lot-in/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Young people are more likely to be idealistic and think that radical change is both necessary and possible. They may not yet be stuck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/young-people-are-more-likely-to-be-idealistic-and-think-that-radical/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [National chauvinism is a very tough nut to crack, since a vast propaganda network is in place to keep the workers whipped up into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/national-chauvinism-is-a-very-tough-nut-to-crack-since-a-vast/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [The Vietnam War was so obviously evil and bore down most heavily upon working class youth that it made me think about things more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/the-vietnam-war-was-so-obviously-evil-and-bore-down-most-heavily-upon/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [You can't take the view of some of the sectarian parties that hard issues can't be confronted when dealing with workers. If you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/you-can-t-take-the-view-of-some-of-the-sectarian-parties-that-hard/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Of course we can talk about the radical potential of youth. But in the U.S. it is still the case that most youth are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/of-course-we-can-talk-about-the-radical-potential-of-youth-but-in-the/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [The main dividing line is still race. This is the issue that must be focused upon in all working class organizations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/the-main-dividing-line-is-still-race-this-is-the-issue-that-must-be/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Without an understanding of the issue of race and a willingness to confront it head on, the working class will not build its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/without-an-understanding-of-the-issue-of-race-and-a-willingness-to/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) [Explore all 29 Michael Yates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) ## More Activism quotes > [“God has a way of picking a “nobody” and turning their world upside down, in order to create a “somebody” that will remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-has-a-way-of-picking-a-nobody-and-turning-their-world-upside-down/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“All struggles against oppression in the modern woeld begin by redefining what had previously been consideered private, non-public and non-political issues as matters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyla-benhabib/all-struggles-against-oppression-in-the-modern-woeld-begin-by/) Seyla Benhabib > [Joy doesn't betray but sustains activism. And when you face a politics that aspires to make you fearful, alienated and isolated, joy is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/joy-doesn-t-betray-but-sustains-activism-and-when-you-face-a-politics/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [“It takes a female to have a baby, It takes a woman to raise a child, It takes a mother to raise them correctly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-takes-a-female-to-have-a-baby-it-takes-a-woman-to-raise-a-child-it/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Paul Revere earned his living as a silversmith. But what do we remember him for? His volunteer work. All activism is volunteering in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-j-ellis/paul-revere-earned-his-living-as-a-silversmith-but-what-do-we/) Susan J. Ellis > [Being in service and being involved in something that is greater than you is what makes a person complete and whole. The very first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-moreno/being-in-service-and-being-involved-in-something-that-is-greater-than/) [Rita Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-moreno/) > [“The times do not call for grassroots political activism, as if the next election might be enough to reverse a massive cultural earthquake. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-d-miller/the-times-do-not-call-for-grassroots-political-activism-as-if-the/) Paul D. Miller > [He went to Paris looking for answers to questions that bothered him so. He was impressive, young and aggressive, saving the world on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/he-went-to-paris-looking-for-answers-to-questions-that-bothered-him/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [Poetry is a lousy form of activism; it doesn't really change much. And maybe we can point to one or two historical times when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-gottlieb/poetry-is-a-lousy-form-of-activism-it-doesn-t-really-change-much-and/) [Daphne Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-gottlieb/) > [There's a lot of activism that doesn't deal with empowerment, and you have to empower yourself in order to be relevant to any type…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/there-s-a-lot-of-activism-that-doesn-t-deal-with-empowerment-and-you/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [“Until you find a cause you can die for, you are not worthy to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/until-you-find-a-cause-you-can-die-for-you-are-not-worthy-to-live/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [Ya'll know what you need to do? Get together, make a We Are The World record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/ya-ll-know-what-you-need-to-do-get-together-make-a-we-are-the-world/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [“There is no way to tell if we are the pioneers of a visionary new age, whisking humanity into the high vibrations of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-talat-phillips/there-is-no-way-to-tell-if-we-are-the-pioneers-of-a-visionary-new-age/) [Jonathan Talat Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-talat-phillips/) > [Terence McKenna says, "The culture is not your friend." I am not sure we can change this culture. But I think we can rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/terence-mckenna-says-the-culture-is-not-your-friend-i-am-not-sure-we/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [“A spirituality that is only private and self-absorbed, one devoid of an authentic political and social consciousness, does little to halt the suicidal juggernaut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-harvey/a-spirituality-that-is-only-private-and-self-absorbed-one-devoid-of/) [Andrew Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-harvey/) [Browse all 820 Activism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many activists don't want to hear about some grand narrative, one that could unify all of our struggles. So the major issue that needs to be addressed is how to get people to see that there is indeed a grand narrative which just happens to be true.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Yates" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/many-activists-don-t-want-to-hear-about-some-grand-narrative-one-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Activism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/many-activists-don-t-want-to-hear-about-some-grand-narrative-one-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f55/michael-yates-21574_activism_many-activists-don-t-want-to-hear-about_224907.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f55/michael-yates-21574_activism_many-activists-don-t-want-to-hear-about_224907.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f55/michael-yates-21574_activism_many-activists-don-t-want-to-hear-about_224907.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Many activists don't want to hear about some grand narrative, one that could unify all of our struggles. So…” — Michael Yates", "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": "Michael Yates", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Many activists don't want to hear...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/many-activists-don-t-want-to-hear-about-some-grand-narrative-one-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/many-activists-don-t-want-to-hear-about-some-grand-narrative-one-that/#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 } } ] } ```