Blacks have had to learn to protect
â
Blacks have had to learn to protect themselves
by being cynical but not cynical enough to slam
the door on potential opportunities.
We go through life walking a tightrope
to prevent too much disillusionment.
â
Meaning
This quote means black Americans often had to protect themselves with skepticism while still remaining open to real opportunities. Survival required emotional balance.
About Author
Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson was an American baseball player and civil rights activist, famously breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball. His quotes often reflect courage, determination, and equality. Robinson inspires athletes, activists, and leaders to challenge injustice, persevere against adversity, and make a lasting impact in sports and society.
Related Quotes
â I want everybody to understand that I am an American Negro first before I am a member of any political party. â
This quote means racial identity and the experience tied to it shaped his public life more deeply than party affiliation ever could.
â My protest about the post exchange seating bore some results. More seats were allocated for blacks, but there were still separate sections for blacks and for whites. At least I had made my men realize that something could be accomplished by speaking out, and I hoped they would be less resigned to unjust conditions. â
This quote means speaking out against injustice may not remove it completely, but it can still produce real change and encourage others not to accept unfairness silently.
â If I had been white with the things I did, they never would have allowed me to get out of baseball. â
This quote means racial double standards shaped how his behavior was judged. Actions tolerated in white players were punished more harshly in him.