Home / Quotes / Quote by Shirley Sherrod

Quote by Shirley Sherrod

“Given the way the system was, what could I do as I one person, other than devote my life to fighting to make it different? If I had allowed myself to be filled with hate, I probably wouldn't even be alive, because that hate could've killed me. That hate would've blinded me to my contributions in terms of how I could make a difference. You can't think straight when you're consumed by hate and focused on destroying someone else. Instead, I was bent on trying to destroy a system that was not fair to all of us, and I continue to do that.”

Quote by Shirley Sherrod

Author

Shirley Sherrod

Shirley Sherrod is a prominent figure in American civil rights activism, born on November 20, 1947. She has dedicated her life to fighting for racial equality and justice, particularly in rural Georgia. Sherrod's work with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has had a significant impact on the civil rights movement. more

You May Also Like

“You have to approach people with the truth and with love, and with what's right. I was determined to get the truth out because I knew that the truth would set me free.”

People Determined

Author:Shirley Sherrod

“I love helping other people. When I made a commitment to stay in the South, to work for change, it meant devoting my life to working for and helping others. I feel good when I know that I've saved someone's farm, or helped a family to get a home or access to credit. Or when I can get young people to see that there's more to life than just trying to make the biggest dollar for yourself.”

People Trying Helping Home Commitment Helping Others Feel Good I Feel Good

Author:Shirley Sherrod

“The traditional farm, the peanuts, the cotton, the corn, is probably not the thing to do, because you're up against big farmers who can afford all the equipment to grow those kinds of crops. But we need healthy food. We're being encouraged to eat more vegetables. Our school systems are being encouraged to buy locally. So, we need farmers who can produce that food.”

Kind School Healthy Farmers Peanuts Healthy Food

Author:Shirley Sherrod

“We have landowners, small growers. We have people who are holding onto land that was acquired by their families after slavery. They need to produce some of the food we eat, so they can pay the taxes and hold onto the property. Taxes keep going up. We, and by we I mean black people, are rapidly becoming a landless people. Our ancestors, coming out of slavery, acquired more than 15 million acres of land. Today, we're probably down to less than 2 million acres.”

People Mean Today Black Taxes Slavery Property Keep Going Black People Ancestor Holding On

Author:Shirley Sherrod

“I've remained a supporter of the Obama administration, even at the height of my ordeal. There's a lot that he could do differently, but so much of what he's tried to do has been blocked by the Republican officeholders. I think that he could have been a much better president with more support. So, I'm still supportive of him.”

Thinking President Support Republican Supporter Supportive Blocked

Author:Shirley Sherrod

“If you're in government service for the money, then you'll do what you have to do to survive. But if you're in it to do the right thing, then it might mean that you won't get to stay there, but at least you can say, "I did what was right while I was there."”

Mean Right Thing

Author:Shirley Sherrod

“I want the world to know that Shirley Sherrod is someone who is committed to helping others. I love people, and I love doing things that make a difference.”

People World Helping Committed Helping Others Making A Difference

Author:Shirley Sherrod

“You can't give up. Sometimes you get knocked down, but you have to get back up, fighting. You have to think about the others who come behind you as well. And you have to think of the example that you set for others.”

Thinking Giving Sometimes Fighting Giving Up

Author:Shirley Sherrod

“When I look in the mirror I see someone who's aging now, and someone who kept a commitment made many, many years ago, and who today is trying to be an example for young women.”

Trying Today Commitment Aging Young Women

Author:Shirley Sherrod

“I wish that somehow, some way we could learn to live together in this country.”

Country Together Wish

Author:Shirley Sherrod