--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I shall never fight in the armed forces…" description: "\"I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side. ... Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/064/robert-byrd-17085_america_i-shall-never-fight-in-the-armed-forces_2053004.png" --- # I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my… ![“I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side. ... Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds.” quote by Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/064/robert-byrd-17085_america_i-shall-never-fight-in-the-armed-forces_2053004.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/064/robert-byrd-17085_america_i-shall-never-fight-in-the-armed-forces_2053004.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/064/robert-byrd-17085_america_i-shall-never-fight-in-the-armed-forces_2053004.png) > “I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side. ... Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds.” [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He expresses extreme racial prejudice, valuing purity over unity. **In simple terms:** Racist view on integration. Key Takeaway Reject hatred, embrace equality. Themes racism politics division Mood somber critical Type historical controversial When to use this quote - political debate - historical analysis - education - social justice Key Concepts Extremism civil rights Questions to Reflect On - Why do people cling to supremacist ideas? - How can societies heal from past hate? A Different Perspective Such rhetoric fuels division and violence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Armed forces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armed-forces/) [Beloved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beloved/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Dirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirt/) [Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory/) [Intolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance/) [Old glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-glory/) [Patriotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotic/) [Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Segregation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/segregation/) [Throwback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throwback/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Usa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usa/) ## Related quotes > [To hold Old Glory, a symbol of freedom and liberty to many around the world, not just in the United States, this one means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-alvarez/to-hold-old-glory-a-symbol-of-freedom-and-liberty-to-many-around-the/) [Eddy Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-alvarez/) > [Each American embassy comes with two permanent features - a giant anti-American demonstration and a giant line for American visas. Most demonstrators spend half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/each-american-embassy-comes-with-two-permanent-features-a-giant-anti/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“The ship, which appeared to belong to another band, was just passing by for a look. She was bigger than the Old Glory, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-eames/the-ship-which-appeared-to-belong-to-another-band-was-just-passing-by/) [Nicholas Eames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-eames/) > [“you dont like the stars in Old Glory Then go back to your land across the sea To the land from which you came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dos-passos/you-dont-like-the-stars-in-old-glory-then-go-back-to-your-land-across/) [John dos Passos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dos-passos/) > [“carried a CRKJ folding utility knife, which could come in handy if I needed to dig some brass out of a badly jammed gun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-lacz/carried-a-crkj-folding-utility-knife-which-could-come-in-handy-if-i/) Kevin Lacz > [“It is difficult to think of diversity as a strength when Old Glory is treated as gang colors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-taylor/it-is-difficult-to-think-of-diversity-as-a-strength-when-old-glory-is/) [Jared Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-taylor/) > [American Girls and American Guys We'll always stand up and salute We'll always recognize When we see Old Glory Flying There's a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/american-girls-and-american-guys-we-ll-always-stand-up-and-salute-we/) [Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/) > [This year, as we celebrate the 230th anniversary of America's independence, please remember the symbols that are sacred to this country. Fly Old Glory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-marchant/this-year-as-we-celebrate-the-230th-anniversary-of-america-s/) [Kenny Marchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-marchant/) > [I'm proud to be an Oakie from Muskogee, a place where even squares can have a ball. We still wave Old Glory down at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-haggard/i-m-proud-to-be-an-oakie-from-muskogee-a-place-where-even-squares-can/) [Merle Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-haggard/) > [The American flag, Old Glory, standing tall and flying free over American soil for 228 years is the symbol of our beloved country. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-miller/the-american-flag-old-glory-standing-tall-and-flying-free-over/) [Jeff Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-miller/) > [“for Lisa Foley. Talk about stirring up old insecurities… Lisa Foley had been the queen ‘b’ in high school. Come to think of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-astor/for-lisa-foley-talk-about-stirring-up-old-insecurities-lisa-foley-had/) [Marie Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-astor/) > [Old Glory represents our great American military and their sacrifices to ensure our freedom. This isn't a political issue. This is about Patriotism, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/old-glory-represents-our-great-american-military-and-their-sacrifices/) [Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/) > [Well always recognize. When we see Old Glory Flying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-keith/well-always-recognize-when-we-see-old-glory-flying/) [Toby Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-keith/) > [You can't prove you're an American by waving Old Glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gahagan-douglas/you-can-t-prove-you-re-an-american-by-waving-old-glory/) [Helen Gahagan Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gahagan-douglas/) > [I don't want to be one of these guys who sits in a room watching old footage of himself, reliving old glory. It's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-heyman/i-don-t-want-to-be-one-of-these-guys-who-sits-in-a-room-watching-old/) [Paul Heyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-heyman/) ## More by Robert Byrd > [The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/the-last-un-weapons-inspectors-left-iraq-in-october-of-1998-we-are/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [We, unlike Nazi Germany or Mussolini's Italy, have never stopped being a nation of laws, not of men. But witness how men with motives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/we-unlike-nazi-germany-or-mussolini-s-italy-have-never-stopped-being/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [And the president is all wrong when he maintains that a nominee should have an up-or-down vote. The Constitution doesn't say that. The Constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/and-the-president-is-all-wrong-when-he-maintains-that-a-nominee/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [To engage in war is always to pick a wild card. And war must always be a last resort, not a first choice. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/to-engage-in-war-is-always-to-pick-a-wild-card-and-war-must-always-be/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [It was the separation of powers upon which the framers placed their hopes for the preservation of the people's liberties. Despite this heritage, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/it-was-the-separation-of-powers-upon-which-the-framers-placed-their/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [Be sure you avoid the Ku Klux Klan. Don't get that albatross around your neck. Once you've made that mistake, you inhibit your operations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/be-sure-you-avoid-the-ku-klux-klan-don-t-get-that-albatross-around/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [It is money, money, money! Not ideas, not principles, but money that reigns supreme in American politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/it-is-money-money-money-not-ideas-not-principles-but-money-that/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [The ongoing strife in Iraq, and the billions of dollars that the President is seeking to continue that war, give me little comfort that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/the-ongoing-strife-in-iraq-and-the-billions-of-dollars-that-the/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [The money the president wants to borrow for Iraq will come directly out of the American taxpayer wallets in the form of Medicare and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/the-money-the-president-wants-to-borrow-for-iraq-will-come-directly/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [Is it any wonder, why the approval ratings of the Congress go up every time we go into recess?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/is-it-any-wonder-why-the-approval-ratings-of-the-congress-go-up-every/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [Political correctness gets in the way of all too many things in this country of ours, I am not a subscriber of political correctness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/political-correctness-gets-in-the-way-of-all-too-many-things-in-this/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [Can it be that we, too, are ready to embrace the foul concepts of atheism? Somebody is tampering with America's soul, I leave it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/can-it-be-that-we-too-are-ready-to-embrace-the-foul-concepts-of/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [That's what the Senate is about. It's the last bastion of minority rights, where a minority can be heard, where a minority can stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/that-s-what-the-senate-is-about-it-s-the-last-bastion-of-minority/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [Saddam Hussein is a threat, but the threat is not so great that we must be stampeded to provide such authority to this president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/saddam-hussein-is-a-threat-but-the-threat-is-not-so-great-that-we/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) > [Mission accomplished? The mission in Iraq, as laid out by President Bush and Vice President Cheney, has failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-byrd/mission-accomplished-the-mission-in-iraq-as-laid-out-by-president/) [Robert Byrd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) [Explore all 36 Robert Byrd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-byrd/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side. ... 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