--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the primary people who have…" description: "\"When the primary people who have influence and power in our communities are not even really allowed to educate you on who to vote for and against, we'r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/shaun-king-5314_influence_when-the-primary-people-who-have-influen_611916.jpg" --- # When the primary people who have influence and power in… ![“When the primary people who have influence and power in our communities are not even really allowed to educate you on who to vote for and against, we're in trouble.” quote by Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/shaun-king-5314_influence_when-the-primary-people-who-have-influen_611916.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/shaun-king-5314_influence_when-the-primary-people-who-have-influen_611916.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/shaun-king-5314_influence_when-the-primary-people-who-have-influen_611916.jpg) > “When the primary people who have influence and power in our communities are not even really allowed to educate you on who to vote for and against, we're in trouble.” [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When those with power are excluded from political education, democracy suffers. **In simple terms:** Excluding powerful voices harms democracy. Key Takeaway Ensure inclusive political education. Themes democracy education power community rights Mood concerned hopeful Type advocacy inspirational When to use this quote - voter outreach - community forums - media literacy programs - policy advocacy Key Concepts Civic literacy information inequality Questions to Reflect On - Who is excluded from political education? - How can marginalized voices be amplified? A Different Perspective Powerful groups may still influence outcomes indirectly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communities Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communities-really-1692997/) [Educate Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educate-vote-4966988/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Influence Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence-power-687646/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-influence/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Vote Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote-trouble-4966989/) ## Related quotes > [I don't see the people who I'm inspired by doing the same jobs I'm doing or getting the same support. It's upsetting. Where are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-consani/i-don-t-see-the-people-who-i-m-inspired-by-doing-the-same-jobs-i-m/) [Alex Consani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-consani/) > [I think there are ways that perhaps organic partnerships can occur in local geographies with groups that are extremely focused on their communities. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/i-think-there-are-ways-that-perhaps-organic-partnerships-can-occur-in/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [Heroes are not giant statues framed against a red sky. They are people who say: This is my community, and it is my responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/heroes-are-not-giant-statues-framed-against-a-red-sky-they-are-people/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Trump's words do have power. Power to inspire and influence. Also power to intimidate and incite fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/trump-s-words-do-have-power-power-to-inspire-and-influence-also-power/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [“The have influence, but no power." "In my experience, influence is power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/the-have-influence-but-no-power-in-my-experience-influence-is-power/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [No man has any influence or power for good when angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-golden-kimball/no-man-has-any-influence-or-power-for-good-when-angry/) [J. Golden Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-golden-kimball/) > [If you have no power, talk about your influence. If you have power, talk about the constraints that hem you in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/if-you-have-no-power-talk-about-your-influence-if-you-have-power-talk/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [There is eternal influence and power in motherhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-b-beck/there-is-eternal-influence-and-power-in-motherhood/) [Julie B. Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-b-beck/) > [Focusing on others will give you more influence and power than focusing on yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-eikenberry/focusing-on-others-will-give-you-more-influence-and-power-than/) [Kevin Eikenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-eikenberry/) > [It takes tremendous discipline to control the influence, the power you have over other people's lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/it-takes-tremendous-discipline-to-control-the-influence-the-power-you/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [“Through our intentions, a place no power can influence, we have the power to oppose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/through-our-intentions-a-place-no-power-can-influence-we-have-the/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Influence comes out of the work that you've done and the things you've stood for. Influence and power shouldn't be given to just anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-fenwick/influence-comes-out-of-the-work-that-you-ve-done-and-the-things-you/) [Millicent Fenwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-fenwick/) > [Bureaucracy is ever desirous of spreading its influence and its power. You cannot extend the mastery of the government over the daily working life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/bureaucracy-is-ever-desirous-of-spreading-its-influence-and-its-power/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [I think there's a point at which money, influence, and power become so blinding that people believe they control the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-sawyer/i-think-there-s-a-point-at-which-money-influence-and-power-become-so/) [Iris Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-sawyer/) > [We are inadvertently in love with the Influence of Power and we need to be in love with the Power of Influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grinder/we-are-inadvertently-in-love-with-the-influence-of-power-and-we-need/) [Michael Grinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grinder/) ## More by Shaun King > [There are many great outlets that we love and respect, but 'The North Star' really is going to be a hard news outlet with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/there-are-many-great-outlets-that-we-love-and-respect-but-the-north/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [I love New York. It's my favorite city in the world. I live and work here by choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/i-love-new-york-it-s-my-favorite-city-in-the-world-i-live-and-work/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [Boston's justice system is in serious need of reform. Many of its policies and practices are antiquated, expensive, and don't really even make Boston…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/boston-s-justice-system-is-in-serious-need-of-reform-many-of-its/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [LISTEN: If you ever wondered what you would do if you were alive in the Civil Rights Movement, NOW IS THE TIME to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/listen-if-you-ever-wondered-what-you-would-do-if-you-were-alive-in/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [I fight against racism and bigotry because I care about the people who are experiencing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/i-fight-against-racism-and-bigotry-because-i-care-about-the-people/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [Politicians can and should be held accountable for their choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/politicians-can-and-should-be-held-accountable-for-their-choices/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [When you are a coordinated partner, you are, in effect, on the campaign staff. You can talk to the whole staff and have virtually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/when-you-are-a-coordinated-partner-you-are-in-effect-on-the-campaign/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [Our nation is not a fully representative democracy if we do not have a one-person, one-vote method of directly electing our president. It disproportionately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/our-nation-is-not-a-fully-representative-democracy-if-we-do-not-have/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [I've always been a writer and have always loved writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/i-ve-always-been-a-writer-and-have-always-loved-writing/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [The United States has so many laws, into the millions, that experts have lost track of just how many laws we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/the-united-states-has-so-many-laws-into-the-millions-that-experts/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [For my entire life, I have held the cards of my complicated family history very close to my chest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/for-my-entire-life-i-have-held-the-cards-of-my-complicated-family/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [When 63 million people voted to elect Donald Trump as the president of the United States, it opened up the floodgates for toxic white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/when-63-million-people-voted-to-elect-donald-trump-as-the-president/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [When you turn 18 in the United States, you should be automatically registered to vote. Ideally, this sensible reform would be a federal law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/when-you-turn-18-in-the-united-states-you-should-be-automatically/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [There is a movement we call Afro-Futurism, where we imagine a black way of life free of white supremacy and bigotry. 'Black Panther,' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/there-is-a-movement-we-call-afro-futurism-where-we-imagine-a-black/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [My theory on momentum is that the best way to produce it is through small, hard-fought victories that lead to bigger battles and bigger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/my-theory-on-momentum-is-that-the-best-way-to-produce-it-is-through/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) [Explore all 101 Shaun King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) ## More Influence quotes > [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/my-coach-robert-allen-helped-me-a-lot-he-had-more-influence-on-my/) [LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/) > [Life is not about how much you have but how much you have affect others life positively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-not-about-how-much-you-have-but-how-much-you-have-affect/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [Treason implies responsibility for something, control over something, influence upon something, knowledge of something. Treason in our time is a proof of genius. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/treason-implies-responsibility-for-something-control-over-something/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [... a fellow can't predict what he will pick up in the form of influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/a-fellow-can-t-predict-what-he-will-pick-up-in-the-form-of-influence/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [We believe a scientist because he can substantiate his remarks, not because he is eloquent and forcible in his enunciation. In fact, we distrust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-a-richards/we-believe-a-scientist-because-he-can-substantiate-his-remarks-not/) [I. A. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-a-richards/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [Every man is a missionary, now and forever, for good or for evil, whether he intends or designs it or not. He may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/every-man-is-a-missionary-now-and-forever-for-good-or-for-evil/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [My influences are jazz, blues, European classical music; they are rock music and pop music. So many kinds of music. World music from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/my-influences-are-jazz-blues-european-classical-music-they-are-rock/) [Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/) > [Influences come from everywhere. I don't really feel like I had too many influences for the first record because I grew up listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/influences-come-from-everywhere-i-don-t-really-feel-like-i-had-too/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [It was both necessary and desirable for us to be so strong at sea that no Sea Power could attack us without risk, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-von-bulow/it-was-both-necessary-and-desirable-for-us-to-be-so-strong-at-sea/) [Bernhard von Bulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-von-bulow/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 7,121 Influence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When the primary people who have influence and power in our communities are not even really allowed to educate you on who to vote for and against, we're in trouble.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shaun King" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/when-the-primary-people-who-have-influence-and-power-in-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Influence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/when-the-primary-people-who-have-influence-and-power-in-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/shaun-king-5314_influence_when-the-primary-people-who-have-influen_611916.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/shaun-king-5314_influence_when-the-primary-people-who-have-influen_611916.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e39/shaun-king-5314_influence_when-the-primary-people-who-have-influen_611916.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When the primary people who have influence and power in our communities are not even really allowed to…” — Shaun King", "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": "Shaun King", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When the primary people who have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/when-the-primary-people-who-have-influence-and-power-in-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/when-the-primary-people-who-have-influence-and-power-in-our/#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 } } ] } ```