--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's been rough for me trying to find my…" description: "\"It's been rough for me trying to find my position in the struggle and where my voice is needed and helpful. You know, I grew up in Philadelphia, and Ph..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/will-smith-1021_brutality_it-s-been-rough-for-me-trying-to-find-my_2323629.jpg" --- # It's been rough for me trying to find my position in the… ![“It's been rough for me trying to find my position in the struggle and where my voice is needed and helpful. You know, I grew up in Philadelphia, and Philadelphia has a really rough police-brutality history. I grew up in a neighborhood where it was very clear that the police were "them" and we were…” quote by Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/will-smith-1021_brutality_it-s-been-rough-for-me-trying-to-find-my_2323629.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/will-smith-1021_brutality_it-s-been-rough-for-me-trying-to-find-my_2323629.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ad/will-smith-1021_brutality_it-s-been-rough-for-me-trying-to-find-my_2323629.jpg) > “It's been rough for me trying to find my position in the struggle and where my voice is needed and helpful. You know, I grew up in Philadelphia, and Philadelphia has a really rough police-brutality history. I grew up in a neighborhood where it was very clear that the police were "them" and we were "us".” [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) ## 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 personal struggle to find purpose amid systemic police brutality in Philadelphia, highlighting a divide between community and law enforcement. **In simple terms:** Seeking purpose while confronting police violence. Key Takeaway Find your voice and address community issues. Themes justice identity community struggle Mood reflective serious Type personal social When to use this quote - social justice work - community organizing - personal counseling Key Concepts systemic racism activism self-discovery Questions to Reflect On - How can you contribute to change locally? - What personal strengths help you navigate adversity? A Different Perspective May generalize complex social dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brutality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutality/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew/) [Grew up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew-up/) [Helpful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helpful/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Neighborhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighborhood/) [Philadelphia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philadelphia/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Police brutality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police-brutality/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Position Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position-struggle-5564156/) [Rough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rough/) [Rough Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rough-trying-5564157/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggle Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-voice-5564155/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-am-not-unmindful-that-some-of-you-have-come-here-out-of-great/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Black Lives Matter and police brutality are issues that are important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jabari-parker/black-lives-matter-and-police-brutality-are-issues-that-are-important/) [Jabari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jabari-parker/) > [I'm sick of watching 'Blue Lives Matter' supporters idly stand by any police officer simply because he wears blue, ignoring the facts that should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seph-lawless/i-m-sick-of-watching-blue-lives-matter-supporters-idly-stand-by-any/) [Seph Lawless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seph-lawless/) > [In Crash, you've got a pathological cop who at the end justifies police brutality. He tells the naïve, young cop that you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/in-crash-you-ve-got-a-pathological-cop-who-at-the-end-justifies/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [I dont want any injustice brought against the bullies. Bullies just dont know any better. Anyone who is crying about police brutality or victimization…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-pink/i-dont-want-any-injustice-brought-against-the-bullies-bullies-just/) [Ariel Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-pink/) > [This is the problem with the United States: there's no leadership. A leader would say, 'Police brutality is an oxymoron. There are no brutal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/this-is-the-problem-with-the-united-states-there-s-no-leadership-a/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [It's becoming much more common to see yoga studios offer classes aimed exclusively at people of color who are searching for ways to cope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-wortham/it-s-becoming-much-more-common-to-see-yoga-studios-offer-classes/) [Jenna Wortham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-wortham/) > [When you hear these stories about different cases of police brutality, don't even just make that person just another hashtag, another statistic. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-layne/when-you-hear-these-stories-about-different-cases-of-police-brutality/) [KiKi Layne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-layne/) > [It was better walk with dignity than ride in shame. A lot of people in Cincinnati are saying, "Rather than have the continual problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/it-was-better-walk-with-dignity-than-ride-in-shame-a-lot-of-people-in/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [I realize I will always be the poster child for police brutality, but I can try to use that as a positive force for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-king/i-realize-i-will-always-be-the-poster-child-for-police-brutality-but/) [Rodney King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-king/) > [I partner with Mothers Against Police Brutality - was just a phenomenal group of people and helped me learn so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-carlisle/i-partner-with-mothers-against-police-brutality-was-just-a-phenomenal/) [Rick Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-carlisle/) > [Freddie Gray was a story I followed closer than others, for whatever reason, in this larger narrative of police brutality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-malkmus/freddie-gray-was-a-story-i-followed-closer-than-others-for-whatever/) [Stephen Malkmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-malkmus/) > [HATE, even if it's making money. is an underground movie, that's how it was made. It's a film about police brutality in the largest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-kassovitz/hate-even-if-it-s-making-money-is-an-underground-movie-that-s-how-it/) [Mathieu Kassovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-kassovitz/) > [Most pastors railing against gay marriage have never cried out on racism, any type of injustice or police brutality. They've never once made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otis-moss-iii/most-pastors-railing-against-gay-marriage-have-never-cried-out-on/) [Otis Moss III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otis-moss-iii/) > [I've seen the police brutality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/i-ve-seen-the-police-brutality/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) ## More by Will Smith > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [Goofy was the word that was used most often by my sisters because I've been this tall ever since I was 12 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/goofy-was-the-word-that-was-used-most-often-by-my-sisters-because-i/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [Everybody need a partner to stand right by their side. Not only down for the good times. But also down through the bad times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/everybody-need-a-partner-to-stand-right-by-their-side-not-only-down/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [Thomas Jefferson was a real poet. He was slick with that 'pursuit' of happiness because the 'pursuit' puts it back on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/thomas-jefferson-was-a-real-poet-he-was-slick-with-that-pursuit-of/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I have fun. I enjoy my life. And I was hardwired for a deep connection between service, God, and happiness. You kind of need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/i-have-fun-i-enjoy-my-life-and-i-was-hardwired-for-a-deep-connection/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [Believing in yourself is the first step to accomplishing any goal. If you think you're going to fail, you probably will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/believing-in-yourself-is-the-first-step-to-accomplishing-any-goal-if/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [ You might be \[outshining me in many ways\]. But if we get on a treadmill, there are two things: you're getting off first or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/you-might-be-outshining-me-in-many-ways-but-if-we-get-on-a-treadmill/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [Black people playing tennis, next white people will be tap dancing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/black-people-playing-tennis-next-white-people-will-be-tap-dancing/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [Anything can go away. There's no such thing as safety and security. You can do things that give you the illusion of safety and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/anything-can-go-away-there-s-no-such-thing-as-safety-and-security-you/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [You be as truthful as you can to a specific situation, and it will become universal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/you-be-as-truthful-as-you-can-to-a-specific-situation-and-it-will/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [Listen to these words, they are very inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/listen-to-these-words-they-are-very-inspirational/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [Life is lived on the edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/life-is-lived-on-the-edge/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [You dont try to build a well, you dont set out to build a wall, you dont say I am going to build the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/you-dont-try-to-build-a-well-you-dont-set-out-to-build-a-wall-you/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [While the other guy's sleeping? I'm working. While the other guy's eatin'? I'm working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/while-the-other-guy-s-sleeping-i-m-working-while-the-other-guy-s/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [“Too many people are buying things they can't afford, with money that they don't have... to impress people that they don't like!" Nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/too-many-people-are-buying-things-they-can-t-afford-with-money-that/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) [Explore all 305 Will Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) ## More Brutality quotes > [All women love semi-rape. They love to be taken.It was his sweet brutality against my bruised body that made his act of love so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/all-women-love-semi-rape-they-love-to-be-taken-it-was-his-sweet/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“The hunger for power has made them cruel They shed humanity and shed every rule They bow to the devil, deny what is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/the-hunger-for-power-has-made-them-cruel-they-shed-humanity-and-shed/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [Hitler recruited around him homosexuals to make up his Stormtroopers, they were his enforcers, they were his thugs. And Hitler discovered that he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fischer/hitler-recruited-around-him-homosexuals-to-make-up-his-stormtroopers/) [Bryan Fischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fischer/) > [The greatest reward of this constant interrogation, confrontation with the brutality of my country, is that it has freed me from hosts and myths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/the-greatest-reward-of-this-constant-interrogation-confrontation-with/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [The African tribesman, with his complete contempt for truth and his emphasis on brutality and savagery for others but not for himself, is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/the-african-tribesman-with-his-complete-contempt-for-truth-and-his/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [Never mind a world that can't see past brutality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-ocasek/never-mind-a-world-that-can-t-see-past-brutality/) [Ric Ocasek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-ocasek/) > [I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/i-am-not-unmindful-that-some-of-you-have-come-here-out-of-great/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The horse-laugh indicates brutality of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/the-horse-laugh-indicates-brutality-of-character/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [The Negroes of America had taken the President, the press and the pulpit at their word when they spoke in broad terms of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-negroes-of-america-had-taken-the-president-the-press-and-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [We need tremendous energy to bring about a psychological change in ourselves as human beings, because we have lived far too long in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/we-need-tremendous-energy-to-bring-about-a-psychological-change-in/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I see myself capable of arrogance and brutality... That's a fierce thing, to discover within yourself that which you despise the most in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stevens/i-see-myself-capable-of-arrogance-and-brutality-that-s-a-fierce-thing/) [George Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stevens/) > [The very opposite of freedom is cliche, and nothing is less free, more inert with convention and hollow brutality, than a row of four-letter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-steiner/the-very-opposite-of-freedom-is-cliche-and-nothing-is-less-free-more/) [George Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-steiner/) > [I can tell you countless instances of this country's history of brutality, of inequity, of heartlessness. But if I do that without also talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-moore/i-can-tell-you-countless-instances-of-this-country-s-history-of/) [Wes Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-moore/) > [What draws men and women together is stronger than the brutality and tyranny which drive them apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-fawcett/what-draws-men-and-women-together-is-stronger-than-the-brutality-and/) [Millicent Fawcett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-fawcett/) > [Whether it comes from a despotic sovereign or an elected president, from a murderous general or a beloved leader, I see power as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/whether-it-comes-from-a-despotic-sovereign-or-an-elected-president/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) [Browse all 427 Brutality quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutality/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's been rough for me trying to find my position in the struggle and where my voice is needed and helpful. 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