--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not a policy maker. I'm not even a…" description: "\"I'm not a policy maker. I'm not even a very great activist. My main thing is to make things that speak for the culture that I live in.\" — Wangechi Mutu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/wangechi-mutu-11352_activist_i-m-not-a-policy-maker-i-m-not-even-a-ve_2265156.jpg" --- # I'm not a policy maker. I'm not even a very great… ![“I'm not a policy maker. I'm not even a very great activist. My main thing is to make things that speak for the culture that I live in.” quote by Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/wangechi-mutu-11352_activist_i-m-not-a-policy-maker-i-m-not-even-a-ve_2265156.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/wangechi-mutu-11352_activist_i-m-not-a-policy-maker-i-m-not-even-a-ve_2265156.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca8/wangechi-mutu-11352_activist_i-m-not-a-policy-maker-i-m-not-even-a-ve_2265156.jpg) > “I'm not a policy maker. I'm not even a very great activist. My main thing is to make things that speak for the culture that I live in.” [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She emphasizes that her role is not as a policy maker or activist but as a creator who expresses and shapes cultural identity through her work. **In simple terms:** She creates art that represents her culture. Key Takeaway Use creative expression to influence cultural discourse. Themes art culture identity influence Mood inspirational thoughtful Type creative activist When to use this quote - gallery exhibitions - community workshops - media campaigns - educational programs Key Concepts visual storytelling social commentary cultural representation Questions to Reflect On - How can art bridge gaps between culture and policy? - What responsibilities do creators have to their communities? A Different Perspective Art alone may not change policy without broader systemic action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activist/) [Activist Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activist-main-5226842/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Great Activist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-activist-5226843/) [Makers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makers/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Policy Maker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy-maker-774861/) [Policy makers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy-makers/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-culture-2632735/) ## Related quotes > [I'm the policy-maker; I'm the lawmaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-grassley/i-m-the-policy-maker-i-m-the-lawmaker/) [Chuck Grassley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-grassley/) > [I was an intelligence officer, not a policy-maker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cofer-black/i-was-an-intelligence-officer-not-a-policy-maker/) [Cofer Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cofer-black/) > [ I get letters from \[people getting insurance\] right now. "You saved my child's life." "I did not have to sell my home when my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-get-letters-from-people-getting-insurance-right-now-you-saved-my/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I see myself as more of a policy maker than a political leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/i-see-myself-as-more-of-a-policy-maker-than-a-political-leader/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [“The Great Activist (Sonnet) The world doesn't need another climate summit, the world needs a climate summon, and not from some fair-weather activist that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-great-activist-sonnet-the-world-doesn-t-need-another-climate/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [For the most part, Americans speak of culture and politics as if they were two separate realms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/for-the-most-part-americans-speak-of-culture-and-politics-as-if-they/) [Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/) > [... for twenty years ... to speak of culture has meant that one did not have it. The only people who have talked about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-twenty-years-to-speak-of-culture-has-meant-that-one-did-not-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Technology and comfort - having those, people speak of culture, but do not have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/technology-and-comfort-having-those-people-speak-of-culture-but-do/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [I'm an implementer of policy, not a maker of policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dunford/i-m-an-implementer-of-policy-not-a-maker-of-policy/) [Joseph Dunford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dunford/) > [I don't really see my role as policy maker or policy changer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-pence/i-don-t-really-see-my-role-as-policy-maker-or-policy-changer/) [Karen Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-pence/) > [As a policy maker, I have to stand up for the rights of all my constituents, regardless of their faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/as-a-policy-maker-i-have-to-stand-up-for-the-rights-of-all-my/) [Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/) > [The job of a judge is to figure out what the law says, not what he wants it to say. There is a difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/the-job-of-a-judge-is-to-figure-out-what-the-law-says-not-what-he/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [Children have in the past and continue to influence policy makers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-bellamy/children-have-in-the-past-and-continue-to-influence-policy-makers/) [Carol Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-bellamy/) > [Judges are required by our democratic system not to overstep their positions to become policy makers or super-legislators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-grassley/judges-are-required-by-our-democratic-system-not-to-overstep-their/) [Chuck Grassley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-grassley/) > [Women are never again going to be mindless coffee-makers or mindless policy-makers in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/women-are-never-again-going-to-be-mindless-coffee-makers-or-mindless/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) ## More by Wangechi Mutu > [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. We've done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago-from-the-scientific/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [We have to redefine what we mean when we say, 'Who are your people?' 'Where are you from?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-have-to-redefine-what-we-mean-when-we-say-who-are-your-people/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I keep things moving along with a seriously loving, caring, and brilliant man, a fierce group of friends - and really strong coffee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-keep-things-moving-along-with-a-seriously-loving-caring-and/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I've always been curious about the things that I'm afraid to look at, that make me embarrassed or bother me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-ve-always-been-curious-about-the-things-that-i-m-afraid-to-look-at/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I feel that art is beyond language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-feel-that-art-is-beyond-language/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [A lot of my work reflects the incredible influence that America has had on contemporary African culture. Some of it's insidious, some of it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/a-lot-of-my-work-reflects-the-incredible-influence-that-america-has/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I feel like I've spent a lot of time imagining home and thinking about a dream-like place, as opposed to a real place, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-feel-like-i-ve-spent-a-lot-of-time-imagining-home-and-thinking/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [Football has that wonderful gift of being accessible. You don't need much gear, a coach, or a lifeguard. You just need your imagination, strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/football-has-that-wonderful-gift-of-being-accessible-you-don-t-need/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [Equal rights for women and queer folks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/equal-rights-for-women-and-queer-folks/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [What is Africa, anyway? Even I don't know what Africa is, entirely. But I know that it's not some of these simplified sound bites…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/what-is-africa-anyway-even-i-don-t-know-what-africa-is-entirely-but-i/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I'm big into multifunctional clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-m-big-into-multifunctional-clothing/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [If something hurtful enters your body, you create something beautiful to protect yourself from it. That's my philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/if-something-hurtful-enters-your-body-you-create-something-beautiful/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [Always acknowledge your position in the food chain... They eat because you grow the food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/always-acknowledge-your-position-in-the-food-chain-they-eat-because/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I have this amateur side attraction to, and interest in, the sciences and biology and physics and evolution. Paleontology is of interest to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-have-this-amateur-side-attraction-to-and-interest-in-the-sciences/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I'm very much a person that believes that there's something that was introduced into Kenya and Africa as we know it that has made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-m-very-much-a-person-that-believes-that-there-s-something-that-was/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) [Explore all 60 Wangechi Mutu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) ## More Activist quotes > [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/) > [“God has a way of picking a “nobody” and turning their world upside down, in order to create a “somebody” that will remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-has-a-way-of-picking-a-nobody-and-turning-their-world-upside-down/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Social media is not just another way to connect feminist and activist voices - it amplifies our messages as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/social-media-is-not-just-another-way-to-connect-feminist-and-activist/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [We must always refill and ensure there is a critical mass of leaders and activists committed to nonviolence and racial and economic justice who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/we-must-always-refill-and-ensure-there-is-a-critical-mass-of-leaders/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [I have never been an activist for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-parsons/i-have-never-been-an-activist-for-anything/) [Jim Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-parsons/) > [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [Because my graduate academic training at law school was not one that included most of the intellectual traditions I find useful for understanding the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-spade/because-my-graduate-academic-training-at-law-school-was-not-one-that/) [Dean Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-spade/) > [I've been an activist in the LGBT community for a long time. I think nothing's changed, I'm just a little bit more focused on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-bono/i-ve-been-an-activist-in-the-lgbt-community-for-a-long-time-i-think/) [Chaz Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-bono/) > [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/) > [I think that compared to other politicians who have been put in jail in the past, compared to the human-rights activists in history who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-think-that-compared-to-other-politicians-who-have-been-put-in-jail/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Some kinds of activists are more willing to try stuff out, see if works and think on their feet, but some of the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-green/some-kinds-of-activists-are-more-willing-to-try-stuff-out-see-if/) [Duncan Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-green/) > [Black gay activists should try to build coalitions of people for the elimination of all injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/black-gay-activists-should-try-to-build-coalitions-of-people-for-the/) [Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/) > [You do what you know is good, because it's good, and then you have a certain peace of mind, saying, you've been an activist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/you-do-what-you-know-is-good-because-it-s-good-and-then-you-have-a/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) > [Obviously the transgender movement has not progressed in the way that the gay and lesbian movement has. But Im an activist - thats just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-bono/obviously-the-transgender-movement-has-not-progressed-in-the-way-that/) [Chaz Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaz-bono/) > [“If you teach your children how to bully, or do nothing to stop them, teach them also how to die for their cause.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darnell-lamont-walker/if-you-teach-your-children-how-to-bully-or-do-nothing-to-stop-them/) [Darnell Lamont Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darnell-lamont-walker/) [Browse all 773 Activist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not a policy maker. I'm not even a very great activist. 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