--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I realize the importance of retelling…" description: "\"I realize the importance of retelling those stories is so that, one, we don't forget what our ancestors had to do so we can be where we are, and two, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/stephan-james-17537_ancestor_i-realize-the-importance-of-retelling-th_1510721.jpg" --- # I realize the importance of retelling those stories is so… ![“I realize the importance of retelling those stories is so that, one, we don't forget what our ancestors had to do so we can be where we are, and two, to just educate the newer generation. I'm being educated by all these films ['Race' and 'Selma'] and the things I've had the opportunity to be a…” quote by Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/stephan-james-17537_ancestor_i-realize-the-importance-of-retelling-th_1510721.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/stephan-james-17537_ancestor_i-realize-the-importance-of-retelling-th_1510721.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/stephan-james-17537_ancestor_i-realize-the-importance-of-retelling-th_1510721.jpg) > “I realize the importance of retelling those stories is so that, one, we don't forget what our ancestors had to do so we can be where we are, and two, to just educate the newer generation. I'm being educated by all these films \['Race' and 'Selma'\] and the things I've had the opportunity to be a part of, and kids even younger than me are being educated, too. It's important to make sure those stories never die.” [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Preserving ancestral narratives educates both current and future generations, preventing cultural loss. **In simple terms:** Keep ancestral stories alive to teach and inspire. Key Takeaway Share and teach historic stories. Themes heritage education memory culture generational learning Mood reflective hopeful determined Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - school curricula - family storytelling - community events - media projects - museum exhibits Key Concepts storytelling cultural preservation intergenerational dialogue Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure accuracy while sharing? - What methods best engage youth? A Different Perspective Stories may be romanticized or incomplete, risking misinformation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancestor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancestor/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [I think it's why we're able to look at with comic book stories or origin stories, why is it that we can keep retelling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-peirce/i-think-it-s-why-we-re-able-to-look-at-with-comic-book-stories-or/) [Kimberly Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-peirce/) > [I've never had any interest in retelling stories from my youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-ve-never-had-any-interest-in-retelling-stories-from-my-youth/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [I used to be like "Why are we doing a remake? What are remakes being done for?" But then, we do that all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-used-to-be-like-why-are-we-doing-a-remake-what-are-remakes-being/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [Not only does democracy make every man forget his ancestors, but also clouds their view of their descendants and isolates them from their contemporaries.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/not-only-does-democracy-make-every-man-forget-his-ancestors-but-also/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [“To plant a family! This idea is at the bottom of most of the wrong and mischief which men do. The truth is, that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/to-plant-a-family-this-idea-is-at-the-bottom-of-most-of-the-wrong-and/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it’s the other way around. Stories exist independently of their players. If you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/people-think-that-stories-are-shaped-by-people-in-fact-it-s-the-other/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“A new generation is growing up in our midst, a generation actuated by new ideas and new principles. It is serious and enthusiastic for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/a-new-generation-is-growing-up-in-our-midst-a-generation-actuated-by/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Artists of my generation were not educated. We were not given the equipment because it was generally believed to be irrelevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/artists-of-my-generation-were-not-educated-we-were-not-given-the/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) > [A new generation of more educated people started to be active. Then society required freedom, society demanded freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-gorbachev/a-new-generation-of-more-educated-people-started-to-be-active-then/) [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-gorbachev/) > [One of the core ideas of the Bible is that meaning can be found in history. The sheer act of telling and retelling stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/one-of-the-core-ideas-of-the-bible-is-that-meaning-can-be-found-in/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [A generation educated in fearless freedom will have wider and bolder hopes than are possible to us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/a-generation-educated-in-fearless-freedom-will-have-wider-and-bolder/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [There's so much information now, and that even goes down to the college game. You have so much video, you can watch every YouTube…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-scherzer/there-s-so-much-information-now-and-that-even-goes-down-to-the/) [Max Scherzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-scherzer/) > [Roecker sure is a romantic about certain things, like art and music, though you might not know it from watching Live Freaky! Die Freaky!,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roecker/roecker-sure-is-a-romantic-about-certain-things-like-art-and-music/) [John Roecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roecker/) > [“Australian Aborigines say that the big stories — the stories worth telling and retelling, the ones in which you may find the meaning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/australian-aborigines-say-that-the-big-stories-the-stories-worth/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [After I’d told her – the mall, the taxi, Cross stroking my hair – she said, ‘Did he kiss you?’ ‘John and Martin totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/after-i-d-told-her-the-mall-the-taxi-cross-stroking-my-hair-she-said/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) ## More by Stephan James > [What I've learned about that word is context, where the world is coming from - in the era the film is set, it obviously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/what-i-ve-learned-about-that-word-is-context-where-the-world-is/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [My parents are from Jamaica, and I love reggae music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/my-parents-are-from-jamaica-and-i-love-reggae-music/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [John Lewis is such a remarkable human being. Literally, such a beautiful human being. I remember the first time I met him. We were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/john-lewis-is-such-a-remarkable-human-being-literally-such-a/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [Jesse Owens had to be a very strong person. There were a lot of protests, but I think that he knew, despite the pressure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/jesse-owens-had-to-be-a-very-strong-person-there-were-a-lot-of/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I want to be a superhero, I want to be Spider-Man or Batman. Will you let me know if you have any connections? Let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-want-to-be-a-superhero-i-want-to-be-spider-man-or-batman-will-you/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I enjoy challenging perspective - challenging ideas of what it means to be a black man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-enjoy-challenging-perspective-challenging-ideas-of-what-it-means-to/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I really believe in speaking things into existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-really-believe-in-speaking-things-into-existence/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I care a lot about who I'm working with as directors and other actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-care-a-lot-about-who-i-m-working-with-as-directors-and-other-actors/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [When is not a good time to speak up for our vets and support them in any way that we can?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/when-is-not-a-good-time-to-speak-up-for-our-vets-and-support-them-in/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [Everything I do is just an opportunity to tell a great story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/everything-i-do-is-just-an-opportunity-to-tell-a-great-story/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I feel like I've always been an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-feel-like-i-ve-always-been-an-actor/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [We have to start creating more material that gives a platform for people of colour, for women, for old people and young people alike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/we-have-to-start-creating-more-material-that-gives-a-platform-for/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [The issue of racism happens all over the world. Granted, people - especially Americans - don't know the the Canadian culture. But if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/the-issue-of-racism-happens-all-over-the-world-granted-people/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I've been a big fan of Barry Jenkins for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-ve-been-a-big-fan-of-barry-jenkins-for-a-long-time/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I know I'm a black actor, but really, I'm an actor who happens to be black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-know-i-m-a-black-actor-but-really-i-m-an-actor-who-happens-to-be/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) [Explore all 37 Stephan James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) ## More Ancestor quotes > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [Food binds us to our roots as strongly as any song or poem. Many of us have learned more about our ancestors in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-thomas/food-binds-us-to-our-roots-as-strongly-as-any-song-or-poem-many-of-us/) [Anna Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-thomas/) > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [Going where no man has gone before is more difficult than it sounds. Our cousins and ancestors were no less curious than we are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/going-where-no-man-has-gone-before-is-more-difficult-than-it-sounds/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [I use the phrase 'sibling society' to suggest a culture fundamentally without fathers, mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers, or ancestors. The thinking is horizontal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bly/i-use-the-phrase-sibling-society-to-suggest-a-culture-fundamentally/) [Robert Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bly/) > [“A very long time ago, some 2.5 million years B.C., the mother of human species as we know it, our ultimate ancestor, appeared in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-f-cantor/a-very-long-time-ago-some-2-5-million-years-b-c-the-mother-of-human/) [Norman F. Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-f-cantor/) > [High birth is an accident, not a virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/high-birth-is-an-accident-not-a-virtue/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [Southerners, whose ancestors a hundred years ago knew the horrors of a homeland devastated by war, are particularly determined that war shall never come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/southerners-whose-ancestors-a-hundred-years-ago-knew-the-horrors-of-a/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Two hundred years ago, before the advent of capitalism, a man's social status was fixed from the beginning to the end of his life;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/two-hundred-years-ago-before-the-advent-of-capitalism-a-man-s-social/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [And I saw for the first time how, despite the isolation of our own lives, we are always connected to our ancestors; our bodies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-richman/and-i-saw-for-the-first-time-how-despite-the-isolation-of-our-own/) [Alyson Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-richman/) > [There is an ancient Indian saying: "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." If we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-schroeder/there-is-an-ancient-indian-saying-we-do-not-inherit-the-earth-from/) [Patricia Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-schroeder/) > [It is how it has always been. We will accept the legacy of our ancestors,' Asha says, smiling, and in her smile I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/it-is-how-it-has-always-been-we-will-accept-the-legacy-of-our/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [My ancestors came over from Germany about the time of the Civil War and one of them lost a leg and went back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/my-ancestors-came-over-from-germany-about-the-time-of-the-civil-war/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ Now they \[the Powers\] have started the aggression, and the extinction of our nation is imminent. If we just fold our arms and yield… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/empress-dowager-cixi/now-they-the-powers-have-started-the-aggression-and-the-extinction-of/) Empress Dowager Cixi > [A solitary American monk named Thomas Berry writes that in our relationship to nature, we have been autistic for centuries. Wrapped tightly in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-benyus/a-solitary-american-monk-named-thomas-berry-writes-that-in-our/) [Janine Benyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-benyus/) [Browse all 767 Ancestor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancestor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I realize the importance of retelling those stories is so that, one, we don't forget what our ancestors had to do so we can be where we are, and two, to just educate the newer generation. 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