--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not trying to get power over white…" description: "\"I'm not trying to get power over white. I'm involved in a freedom struggle. Not a power struggle.\" — Muhammad Ali" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/muhammad-ali-386_freedom_i-m-not-trying-to-get-power-over-white-i_3106551.jpg" --- # I'm not trying to get power over white. I'm involved in a… ![“I'm not trying to get power over white. I'm involved in a freedom struggle. Not a power struggle.” quote by Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/muhammad-ali-386_freedom_i-m-not-trying-to-get-power-over-white-i_3106551.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/muhammad-ali-386_freedom_i-m-not-trying-to-get-power-over-white-i_3106551.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc0/muhammad-ali-386_freedom_i-m-not-trying-to-get-power-over-white-i_3106551.jpg) > “I'm not trying to get power over white. I'm involved in a freedom struggle. Not a power struggle.” [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes that his fight is for liberty, not domination over others. **In simple terms:** A freedom fight, not a power grab. Key Takeaway Focus on justice, not control. Themes freedom justice politics ethics activism Mood determined principled Type political inspirational When to use this quote - social movements - political activism - human rights advocacy Key Concepts civil rights nonviolent resistance moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can one maintain moral integrity while fighting oppression? - What distinguishes a freedom struggle from a quest for power? A Different Perspective Power struggles can undermine the purity of a freedom cause. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-struggle-522310/) [Involved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involved/) [Involved Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involved-freedom-1634219/) [Power struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-struggle/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggle Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-power-277383/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White Involved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-involved-5407871/) ## Related quotes > [If there is no struggle, there is no progress…This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/if-there-is-no-struggle-there-is-no-progress-this-struggle-may-be-a/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [As regards the celebrated struggle for life, it seems to me for the present to have been rather asserted than proved. It does occur,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/as-regards-the-celebrated-struggle-for-life-it-seems-to-me-for-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I'm going to be involved with freedom; I'm going to be involved in the marketplace; I'm going to be involved in the accountability in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-m-going-to-be-involved-with-freedom-i-m-going-to-be-involved-in-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I believe in the universality of freedom and therefore want to be involved in the freedom movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-believe-in-the-universality-of-freedom-and-therefore-want-to-be/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I need to get everything straight. I'm not involved in a power struggle between black and white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-need-to-get-everything-straight-i-m-not-involved-in-a-power/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I have never seen any BJP leader going to jail during the freedom struggle; it was only Congressmen who sacrificed for this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asrani/i-have-never-seen-any-bjp-leader-going-to-jail-during-the-freedom/) [Asrani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asrani/) > [Your determination, selflessness and courage have brought the freedom struggle towards its fulfilment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/your-determination-selflessness-and-courage-have-brought-the-freedom/) [Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/) > [The constitution is itself the product of the freedom struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vayalar-ravi/the-constitution-is-itself-the-product-of-the-freedom-struggle/) [Vayalar Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vayalar-ravi/) > [Malcolm X had a clear vision and an understanding that we were - that he was a part of a broad freedom struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manning-marable/malcolm-x-had-a-clear-vision-and-an-understanding-that-we-were-that/) [Manning Marable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manning-marable/) > [Freedom is a struggle, and we do it together. Not only together as black citizens, but black and white together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-young/freedom-is-a-struggle-and-we-do-it-together-not-only-together-as/) [Andrew Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-young/) > [We can't have a freedom struggle without free choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/we-can-t-have-a-freedom-struggle-without-free-choice/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [Angela Davis's legacy as a freedom fighter made her an enemy of the state under the increasingly neoliberal regimes of Nixon, Reagan and J.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/angela-davis-s-legacy-as-a-freedom-fighter-made-her-an-enemy-of-the/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [During freedom struggle, It were authors and artists who made the Nation stand with their pen, and now their pen can create an environment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/during-freedom-struggle-it-were-authors-and-artists-who-made-the/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Freedom is not just something with which we are born; it is something we achieve. America did not receive a perpetual endowment of freedom;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/freedom-is-not-just-something-with-which-we-are-born-it-is-something/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Culture is an indispensable weapon in the freedom struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/culture-is-an-indispensable-weapon-in-the-freedom-struggle/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## More by Muhammad Ali > [There are more pleasant things to do than beat up people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-are-more-pleasant-things-to-do-than-beat-up-people/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [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/) > [I've never let anyone talk me into not believing in myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-ve-never-let-anyone-talk-me-into-not-believing-in-myself/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-m-too-fast-i-m-too-smart-i-m-too-pretty/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I don't count my sit-ups. I only start counting when it starts hurting. That is when I start counting, because then it really counts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-don-t-count-my-sit-ups-i-only-start-counting-when-it-starts-hurting/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I said a lot of things in the heat of the moment that I shouldn't have said. Called him names I shouldn't have called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-said-a-lot-of-things-in-the-heat-of-the-moment-that-i-shouldn-t/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Many people are quick to say that we are not recognized by Muslims in the East . And I start with the Honorable Elijah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/many-people-are-quick-to-say-that-we-are-not-recognized-by-muslims-in/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I have been so great in boxing they had to create an image like Rocky, a white image on the screen, to counteract my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-have-been-so-great-in-boxing-they-had-to-create-an-image-like-rocky/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Money and riches don't mean nothing to me. I don't care nothing about being no rich individual. I'm not living for glory or for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/money-and-riches-don-t-mean-nothing-to-me-i-don-t-care-nothing-about/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [Allah is the Greatest. I'm just the greatest boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/allah-is-the-greatest-i-m-just-the-greatest-boxer/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [My wealth is in my knowledge of self, love, and spirituality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/my-wealth-is-in-my-knowledge-of-self-love-and-spirituality/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [We followed the Honorable Elijah Mohammed, who is the boss. And we don't waste a lot of time arguin' about a dead black man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/we-followed-the-honorable-elijah-mohammed-who-is-the-boss-and-we-don/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I'm gonna have to be killed before I lose, and I ain't going to die easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-m-gonna-have-to-be-killed-before-i-lose-and-i-ain-t-going-to-die/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [If some black man go out and start something, a riot or something or, I'm not going to jump in it and get killed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/if-some-black-man-go-out-and-start-something-a-riot-or-something-or-i/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [If you want to be equal with me, you can get your own Rolls-Royce, your own house and your own million dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/if-you-want-to-be-equal-with-me-you-can-get-your-own-rolls-royce-your/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) [Explore all 609 Muhammad Ali quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [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/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not trying to get power over white. I'm involved in a freedom struggle. 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