Tracy Chapman Quotes

My parents were really political. The news was very important in our home. We basically had dinner every night while watching the news, and then we'd discuss it with our parents.

My father had inklings of my cultural aspirations. He would take me to the library, things like that. But he wasn't one of those dads who had read George Orwell and was a member of the Communist party. We had no books at home.

I don't think there was really a time when I have not been politically aware.

Ours was not a political household, when I was growing up.

I'm not clever enough or aware enough to make a political movie.

I don't think I'm a political songwriter as much as I am just a political person. I think it's in my fabric.

A lot of people in government don't really read books at all.

It's great to be in a film that's able to have people really want to become socially conscious, to walk out of the theatre and want to do something.

I just feel like, with rappers, there's so much complacency. It's like, 'Oh, I'm a rapper. I'm successful. I make money. That's all that matters.' But there's a lot of stuff going on in the world. Whether or not you're aware of it, it's happening.

I sometimes think I was always left-wing. I know that sounds completely crazy, but I do know that I asked questions when I was about four, and I remember noticing that I wasn't getting an answer, and I remember it annoying me.

I have been a politically conscious citizen. I've been an artist, a reader, and have been chiselled by that.

I think I'm gradually becoming a more politically aware person.

I am very political in my mind, thoughts, and understanding.

I stay up on current events. I read 'The New Yorker' and 'The Economist.' I go to community meetings to see what concerns the people in my neighborhood. I studied literature in college, so I also continue to read poetry, literature, and novels.

I don't have a problem with athletes speaking up, but I want to make sure before they speak up, they read up.

I grew up in a household where we talked about the state of the world over breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I am an aware citizen, so I want my characters to be aware, too. They should be aware of what's happening in the society and make a commentary. They're not in a la la land.

I'm not inherently the most politically or, like, socially conscious rapper, you know? You're not just going to wake up tomorrow and be Common.

I obviously grew up with politics and have always been interested in ways in which people can get involved with it and be stimulated by it.

We, as Yale students, pride ourselves on being bright, curious and engaged citizens. We are part of an institution that aims to educate its students to better the world. We tend to think that we do not fit the stereotype of ignorance and apathy that is all too often associated with America.

I think, when people think of NFL athletes, they forget that they are citizens of this country, that they are bothered by the problems that we all face.

If you grow up and your mother or father is a doctor you talk about medicine at the dinner table. In our case we talked about politics at the dinner table.

I'm a walking political statement.

It's important to do anything you can to support the causes that you care about. I think something as small as posting articles on social media or having important conversations with your friends are ways of getting your voice out there!

I've spoken about politics a lot over the years and my main issue that I championed was just general engagement in politics.