We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed

Summary

This quote, attributed to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., highlights the belief that those who are oppressed cannot rely on the oppressor to willingly grant them freedom. Instead, it asserts that those who are oppressed must actively and vehemently demand their freedom. The context suggests that history has shown that the fight for freedom and liberation requires the oppressed to assert their rights, challenge the existing power structures, and actively seek change through struggle and resistance.

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