Malcolm X Quotes
Shmoop will make you a better lover...of quotes
ALL QUOTES POPULAR BROWSE BY AUTHOR BROWSE BY SOURCE BROWSE BY TOPIC BROWSE BY SUBJECT
Source: Malcolm X
We didn't land on Plymouth Rock—Plymouth Rock landed on us.
Context
This line is spoken by Malcolm X, played by Denzel Washington, in the movie Malcolm X, directed by Spike Lee (1992).
Denzel rocked Hollywood when he put his spin on Malcolm X, the controversial spokesman of the Nation of Islam, who ignited a flame in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. With this quote, Mr. X references the fact that the original African-Americans never chose to be American, since they were taken from Africa as slaves.
Check out Denzel's version of the quote here, and click here for the quote as delivered by the original Malcolm X.
Where you've heard it
This is one of the real Malcolm X's most famous quotes, so there's a really good chance that you heard it some history class. If not, you might've seen it on one meme or another, like this one, or this one where actor Tracy Morgan has his way with it.
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
Yeah, quoting famously eloquent Civil Rights leaders definitely puts you in the pretentious zone.