--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was younger, I had these romantic…" description: "\"When I was younger, I had these romantic ideas about the Black Panther Party and what it meant to be a part of the civil rights movement. Then we're he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1db/patrisse-cullors-5946_black-lives-matter_when-i-was-younger-i-had-these-romantic_272233.jpg" --- # When I was younger, I had these romantic ideas about the… ![“When I was younger, I had these romantic ideas about the Black Panther Party and what it meant to be a part of the civil rights movement. Then we're here, and it's dangerous. And it's dangerous to say, 'Black lives matter.'” quote by Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1db/patrisse-cullors-5946_black-lives-matter_when-i-was-younger-i-had-these-romantic_272233.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1db/patrisse-cullors-5946_black-lives-matter_when-i-was-younger-i-had-these-romantic_272233.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1db/patrisse-cullors-5946_black-lives-matter_when-i-was-younger-i-had-these-romantic_272233.jpg) > “When I was younger, I had these romantic ideas about the Black Panther Party and what it meant to be a part of the civil rights movement. Then we're here, and it's dangerous. And it's dangerous to say, 'Black lives matter.'” [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on youthful idealism about activism, noting how current political tensions make even simple statements like “Black lives matter” feel dangerous. **In simple terms:** Idealism meets harsh reality, making activism risky. Key Takeaway Recognize risk, stay committed to justice. Themes activism political risk civil rights identity justice Mood determined urgent hopeful Type motivational political social. When to use this quote - protests - media statements - community organizing - online activism Key Concepts idealism danger public discourse Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance safety and speaking out? - What strategies keep activism effective under threat? A Different Perspective The quote may overlook that speaking truth can also empower despite danger. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black lives matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-lives-matter/) [Black panther party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-panther-party/) [Civil Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-right/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Civil rights movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights-movement/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Rights movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-movement/) [Romantic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romantic/) ## Related quotes > [The Black Panther Party was not a gang. They grew out of a young black intelligentsia on college campuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/the-black-panther-party-was-not-a-gang-they-grew-out-of-a-young-black/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [If they had not murdered Malcolm X, there probably never would have been a Black Panther Party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/if-they-had-not-murdered-malcolm-x-there-probably-never-would-have/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [Gangsta to me is the Black Panther Party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-d-o-c/gangsta-to-me-is-the-black-panther-party/) [The D.O.C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-d-o-c/) > [I think most people, when they think about the Black Panther Party, they think in very abstract, caricatured terms. They think about black fists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-washington/i-think-most-people-when-they-think-about-the-black-panther-party/) [Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/) > [“The Black Panther Party was a revolutionary political organization. Although its members were leaders of the Black Power movement, they were not black nationalists.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/the-black-panther-party-was-a-revolutionary-political-organization/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [What kind of motivated me to join the Black Panther Party was that I, along with some of the comrades that I was working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sekou-odinga/what-kind-of-motivated-me-to-join-the-black-panther-party-was-that-i/) [Sekou Odinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sekou-odinga/) > [Some of the free lunch programs were still goin' on - based on the last leg of the Black Panther Party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kool-moe-dee/some-of-the-free-lunch-programs-were-still-goin-on-based-on-the-last/) [Kool Moe Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kool-moe-dee/) > [“I’m a big cat lover, so I thought it’d be cool to join the Black Panther party. But can you believe it, those fucking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-a-big-cat-lover-so-i-thought-it-d-be-cool-to-join-the-black/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [The FBI's Counter-Intelligence Program would work hand-in-hand with police departments, literally planning attacks on Black Panther Party offices throughout the United States of America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/the-fbi-s-counter-intelligence-program-would-work-hand-in-hand-with/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [The Black Panther Party were not revenge nationalists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/the-black-panther-party-were-not-revenge-nationalists/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [The Black Panther party of Self-Defense is a revolutionary party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/the-black-panther-party-of-self-defense-is-a-revolutionary-party/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [By 1967, J. Edgar Hoover had concluded that the Black Panther Party had replaced the Communist Party as the gravest threat to national security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-cockburn/by-1967-j-edgar-hoover-had-concluded-that-the-black-panther-party-had/) [Alexander Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-cockburn/) > [Electoral politics was always an objective of the Black Panther party, so Barack Obama is a part of what we dreamed and struggled and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/electoral-politics-was-always-an-objective-of-the-black-panther-party/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) > [The Black Panther Party stood up and said that we don't care what anybody says. We don't think fighting fire with fire is best;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hampton/the-black-panther-party-stood-up-and-said-that-we-don-t-care-what/) [Fred Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hampton/) > [When donors visited the Black Panther Party, they came and saw our real programs, a real clinic, with real doctors and medics, giving service…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-seale/when-donors-visited-the-black-panther-party-they-came-and-saw-our/) [Bobby Seale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-seale/) ## More by Patrisse Cullors > [I think our work as movement leaders isn't just about our own visibility but rather how do we make the whole visible. How do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-think-our-work-as-movement-leaders-isn-t-just-about-our-own/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [I've been an activist since I was a teenager. I was always curious about what we would now call social justice. I remember just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-ve-been-an-activist-since-i-was-a-teenager-i-was-always-curious/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > ['The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman' is a reminder that people across the world are rebelling against norms and forging new paths for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/the-story-of-us-with-morgan-freeman-is-a-reminder-that-people-across/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [Racism has its boot squarely wedged on the neck of black communities, and we don't want to be told that hard work and responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/racism-has-its-boot-squarely-wedged-on-the-neck-of-black-communities/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [I don't like how cruel humans can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-don-t-like-how-cruel-humans-can-be/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [Trump is literally the epitome of evil, all the evils of this country - be it racism, capitalism, sexism, homophobia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/trump-is-literally-the-epitome-of-evil-all-the-evils-of-this-country/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [We have to look at queerness as a means towards challenging normativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/we-have-to-look-at-queerness-as-a-means-towards-challenging/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [The unfortunate reality is the alt-right has captured white people's imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/the-unfortunate-reality-is-the-alt-right-has-captured-white-people-s/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [Since his inauguration, Trump has signed numerous executive orders that negatively impact poor, black and brown, queer, Muslim, and other communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/since-his-inauguration-trump-has-signed-numerous-executive-orders/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [I want to see Black Lives Matter be able to ultimately reduce law enforcement funding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-want-to-see-black-lives-matter-be-able-to-ultimately-reduce-law/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [Colin Kaepernick is one of the leaders in the movement for black lives. His role as an athlete and activist is not only motivating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/colin-kaepernick-is-one-of-the-leaders-in-the-movement-for-black/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [White people who voted for Trump decided to invest in a president who underwrites white supremacy in the guise of populism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/white-people-who-voted-for-trump-decided-to-invest-in-a-president-who/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [I fight to prioritize black mothers and black children because we deserve to live in a world where our healing is centered and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-fight-to-prioritize-black-mothers-and-black-children-because-we/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [Each and every one of us has multiple identities, and this is a fact that should be celebrated. I for example, am a queer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/each-and-every-one-of-us-has-multiple-identities-and-this-is-a-fact/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [I am scared every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-am-scared-every-day/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) [Explore all 100 Patrisse Cullors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) ## More Black lives matter quotes > [It's about being fair. It's about Black Lives Matter. Yes, they matter. Everybody counts or nobody counts, and I think if more cops had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/it-s-about-being-fair-it-s-about-black-lives-matter-yes-they-matter/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [At its best, what art does is, it points to who we as human beings and what we as human beings value. And if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/at-its-best-what-art-does-is-it-points-to-who-we-as-human-beings-and/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [Black Lives Matter started from a post that I put on Facebook after the acquittal of George Zimmerman. I woke up in the middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/black-lives-matter-started-from-a-post-that-i-put-on-facebook-after/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [The national conversation around white entitlement, around institutionalized racism, the Black Lives Matter movement, I think, came about in large part because of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/the-national-conversation-around-white-entitlement-around/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [I do believe 100 percent that Black lives matter and that the cause to achieve and pursue equality supersedes basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-burke/i-do-believe-100-percent-that-black-lives-matter-and-that-the-cause/) [Doris Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-burke/) > [I don't agree with the Black Lives Matter organizers. They are stated as anti-capitalists. And it's much more than just the police to them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/i-don-t-agree-with-the-black-lives-matter-organizers-they-are-stated/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [“You who came of age in the past decade have had eight years of a Black U.S. president, and that gloss looked good, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohja-kahf/you-who-came-of-age-in-the-past-decade-have-had-eight-years-of-a/) [Mohja Kahf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohja-kahf/) > [Bent Literary Agency had a Q&A on Twitter, and I took a chance and asked if the Black Lives Matter movement was an appropriate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/bent-literary-agency-had-a-q-a-on-twitter-and-i-took-a-chance-and/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [I want to see Black Lives Matter be able to ultimately reduce law enforcement funding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/i-want-to-see-black-lives-matter-be-able-to-ultimately-reduce-law/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [If a brand will shy away from you because you dare to say that black lives matter, that's probably not a brand you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luvvie-ajayi/if-a-brand-will-shy-away-from-you-because-you-dare-to-say-that-black/) [Luvvie Ajayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luvvie-ajayi/) > [“The choices you have for your children are not the same as mine. For me, there is no such thing as a banned book.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ellie-mackenzie/the-choices-you-have-for-your-children-are-not-the-same-as-mine-for/) [Sara Ellie MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ellie-mackenzie/) > [At the end of the day, Black Lives Matter and we all know this and I get when people say all lives matter, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhea-ripley/at-the-end-of-the-day-black-lives-matter-and-we-all-know-this-and-i/) [Rhea Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhea-ripley/) > [“An act of violence, no matter how small, can never be justified if it can be avoided.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/an-act-of-violence-no-matter-how-small-can-never-be-justified-if-it/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“I believe Black Lives Matter is a movement to rehumanize black citizens. All lives matter, but not all lives need to be pulled back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-believe-black-lives-matter-is-a-movement-to-rehumanize-black/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“Beloved, to be white is to know that you have at your own hand, or by extension, through institutionalized means, the power to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/beloved-to-be-white-is-to-know-that-you-have-at-your-own-hand-or-by/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) [Browse all 233 Black lives matter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-lives-matter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was younger, I had these romantic ideas about the Black Panther Party and what it meant to be a part of the civil rights movement. Then we're here, and it's dangerous. 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