--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have such a knee-jerk reaction to our…" description: "\"We have such a knee-jerk reaction to our young people, not recognizing our young people carry the torch. We condemn them for their hats worn a certain ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/nate-parker-10210_community_we-have-such-a-knee-jerk-reaction-to-our_181146.jpg" --- # We have such a knee-jerk reaction to our young people, not… ![“We have such a knee-jerk reaction to our young people, not recognizing our young people carry the torch. We condemn them for their hats worn a certain way or their hoodie worn a certain way, or their pants sagging a certain way, but the reality is, we need to meet them where they stand. We need to…” quote by Nate Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/nate-parker-10210_community_we-have-such-a-knee-jerk-reaction-to-our_181146.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/nate-parker-10210_community_we-have-such-a-knee-jerk-reaction-to-our_181146.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd7/nate-parker-10210_community_we-have-such-a-knee-jerk-reaction-to-our_181146.jpg) > “We have such a knee-jerk reaction to our young people, not recognizing our young people carry the torch. We condemn them for their hats worn a certain way or their hoodie worn a certain way, or their pants sagging a certain way, but the reality is, we need to meet them where they stand. We need to arm them with what they need to fight, and then we need to get the hell out the way and let them lead. That is something that is not happening in our communities.” [Nate Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-parker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society often criticizes youth for their appearance instead of empowering them, urging us to support and let them lead. **In simple terms:** Young people are judged for looks, not helped to succeed. Key Takeaway Support youth, step aside, let them lead. Themes generational gaps empowerment leadership youth culture social criticism Mood frustrated hopeful critical Type advice commentary inspirational When to use this quote - schools - community programs - family discussions - media representation Key Concepts identity authority mentship Questions to Reflect On - How can we provide tools without controlling? - What barriers prevent youth leadership? A Different Perspective Youth may lack resources or experience to lead effectively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Hell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hell/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [“When I can’t fight, I need you to fight harder. When I can’t be strong anymore, I need you to be stronger." - Neela…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seril/when-i-can-t-fight-i-need-you-to-fight-harder-when-i-can-t-be-strong/) Steven Seril > [You have to fight for what you need to fight for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-slattery/you-have-to-fight-for-what-you-need-to-fight-for/) [John Slattery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-slattery/) > [I feel like it's my job to carry the torch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-jett/i-feel-like-it-s-my-job-to-carry-the-torch/) [Joan Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-jett/) > [B.B. King wanted people to carry the torch. He wanted people to keep that music alive, and he would talk about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-trucks/b-b-king-wanted-people-to-carry-the-torch-he-wanted-people-to-keep/) [Derek Trucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-trucks/) > [To be looked up to as one of the Americans that's supposed to carry the torch, go to the major championships and get medals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-coleman/to-be-looked-up-to-as-one-of-the-americans-that-s-supposed-to-carry/) [Christian Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-coleman/) > [There is no country... where there are not somewhere lovers of freedom who look to this country to carry the torch and keep it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-baldwin/there-is-no-country-where-there-are-not-somewhere-lovers-of-freedom/) [Stanley Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-baldwin/) > [You can rely on your team to do their jobs, but you have to carry the torch and do anything you need to, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/storm-saulter/you-can-rely-on-your-team-to-do-their-jobs-but-you-have-to-carry-the/) [Storm Saulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/storm-saulter/) > [You can either carry a torch or light or be a torch of light. Were all meant to illuminate each other in some way. à](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/you-can-either-carry-a-torch-or-light-or-be-a-torch-of-light-were-all/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [“I carry a torch in one hand And a bucket of water in the other: With these things I am going to set fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabiah-al-adawiyah/i-carry-a-torch-in-one-hand-and-a-bucket-of-water-in-the-other-with/) rabiah al adawiyah > [I'm proud to carry that torch and be like, 'I'm gay! I'm black! Hang your dreams on me. Hang your hopes on me. I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/i-m-proud-to-carry-that-torch-and-be-like-i-m-gay-i-m-black-hang-your/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [I Won't Rest I Won't Fight All I Need Is YOU and I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cosmas-sila/i-won-t-rest-i-won-t-fight-all-i-need-is-you-and-i/) [Cosmas Sila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cosmas-sila/) > [“I fight when I need to, not when I want to. If I fought when I wanted to… I’d never stop.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-moreci/i-fight-when-i-need-to-not-when-i-want-to-if-i-fought-when-i-wanted/) Jenna Moreci > [As we face everyday challenges remember this sweet promise: The LORD will fight for you, you need only to be still. Exudo 14:14](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/as-we-face-everyday-challenges-remember-this-sweet-promise-the-lord/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [Because we are women, we have to fight for everything. We need to stick together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-wasser/because-we-are-women-we-have-to-fight-for-everything-we-need-to-stick/) [Lauren Wasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-wasser/) > [Technology is such a big part of our lives. It makes everything easier. It doesn't make sense to fight against it. We need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-reyes/technology-is-such-a-big-part-of-our-lives-it-makes-everything-easier/) [Natalia Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-reyes/) ## More by Nate Parker > [Sadly, black people disassociate ourselves from the things which make us who we are, identifying them as lesser, or inferior. 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I consider myself a coach and an activist, so I'm really involved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-parker/i-coach-a-high-school-wrestling-team-and-a-middle-school-team-i/) [Nate Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-parker/) > [The crazy thing is a lot of people - a lot of men, if I'm just speaking for myself - don't really start thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-parker/the-crazy-thing-is-a-lot-of-people-a-lot-of-men-if-i-m-just-speaking/) [Nate Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-parker/) > [Leadership is one of the things I really strive to excel in in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-parker/leadership-is-one-of-the-things-i-really-strive-to-excel-in-in-my-life/) [Nate Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-parker/) > [At 19, if a woman said no, no meant no. 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I never examined it, nobody ever called me on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-parker/i-never-examined-my-role-in-male-culture-in-hyper-masculinity-i-never/) [Nate Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-parker/) [Explore all 67 Nate Parker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-parker/) ## More Community quotes > [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. 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Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) [Browse all 13,840 Community quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have such a knee-jerk reaction to our young people, not recognizing our young people carry the torch. We condemn them for their hats worn a certain way or their hoodie worn a certain way, or their pants sagging a certain way, but the reality is, we need to meet them where they stand. We need to arm them with what they need to fight, and then we need to get the hell out the way and let them lead. 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