In a hurry? TL;DR
- 1Embrace personal agency: Don't wait for external saviors; the power for change is within you and your community, now.
- 2Recognize collective power: Change is a shared effort, not a top-down command; 'we' are the agents of transformation.
- 3Act immediately: The perfect moment for change is always now; stop procrastinating and waiting for ideal conditions.
- 4Challenge the 'future savior' myth: Future generations will face their own challenges; the solutions needed are present today.
- 5Overcome the bystander effect: If you don't act, no one else will; assume responsibility for creating the change you seek.
- 6Defy oppression through self-reliance: Stop waiting for rights to be granted; engage in immediate, self-authorized defiance.
Why It Matters
This quote is a powerful reminder that we possess the agency and collective strength to create change right now, rather than waiting for an external saviour or a more opportune future.
The quote asserts that external saviours are a myth and that the power to effect change resides solely within the collective will of those currently present. It is a call to end the paralysis of waiting for a more qualified leader or a more perfect moment.
Quick Answer
June Jordan’s line suggests that personal and social transformation depends entirely on our own agency rather than external intervention. It rejects the idea that a hero or future generation will arrive to fix the present.
- Agency over Apathy: It shifts the focus from passive expectation to active responsibility.
- Collective Power: The we emphasises that change is a horizontal, shared effort rather than a vertical, top-down command.
- Urgency: It eliminates the excuse of timing, suggesting that the perfect moment is simply now.
- Historical Defiance: It originated as a response to systemic oppression, framing self-reliance as a form of survival.
Why It Matters
This quote serves as the ultimate antidote to the bystander effect, forcing individuals to recognise that if they do not act, no one else will.
The Myth of the Future Saviour
We often treat the future as a distinct entity populated by people wiser and more capable than ourselves. June Jordan’s 1978 Poem for South African Women shattered this illusion. Writing in solidarity with women protesting apartheid, Jordan argued that the revolutionary energy required to topple a regime was already in the room.
The quote lands because it addresses a fundamental human procrastination. We wait for a better political climate, a sturdier economy, or a more charismatic leader before committing to a cause. Jordan suggests this wait is a loop. By the time the next generation arrives, they will be looking back at us, waiting for the same thing.
Unlike traditional motivational slogans that focus on the individual, Jordan’s use of we is specific. It implies a community of marginalized people who have been historically told to wait for their rights to be granted by those in power. In contrast to the patience preached by moderate reformers, Jordan’s message is one of immediate, self-authorised defiance.
About the Author
Historical Context
Jordan first shared these words at the United Nations in 1978. She was addressing the bravery of 40,000 South African women who marched against the pass laws of the apartheid government. While the world waited for diplomatic shifts or international sanctions, these women took to the streets, embodying the idea that they were their own liberators.
Practical Applications
- Leadership: Stop looking for a mentor to give you permission to start a project; recognise your current competence is sufficient.
- Community: Organise local solutions for local problems instead of waiting for municipal or federal funding that may never arrive.
- Personal Growth: Realise that the version of yourself you are waiting to become is cultivated through current actions, not future realisations.
Interesting Connections
- The Hopi Elders’ Prophecy: A similar sentiment is found in a 2000 statement attributed to the Hopi Nation, which concludes with the exact same line: We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.
- Etymology of Patient: The word patient comes from the Latin patiens, meaning one who suffers. Jordan’s quote encourages the transition from being a patient sufferer to an active agent.
- Related Reading: The Psychology of Agency, Stoicism and Control, Collective Action Problems.
Is this a political quote?
While it has deep roots in political activism, its core message is philosophical, dealing with the nature of human agency and the rejection of passivity.
Who did June Jordan write this for?
It was specifically written for the women of South Africa during the apartheid era, though it has since become a universal anthem for various social movements.
Did Barack Obama write this?
No, he famously used it in a 2008 speech, which brought the quote into the global mainstream, but he was quoting a tradition established by Jordan decades earlier.
Key Takeaways
- Self-reliance is a collective act.
- Waiting is often an inadvertent form of surrender.
- The tools for change are already present in the current community.
- True leadership begins with the refusal to look elsewhere for answers.
Historical Context
This powerful statement, "We are the ones we have been waiting for," originated in June Jordan's 1978 poem, "Poem for South African Women." The poem was a direct response to the brutal apartheid regime in South Africa, a system of institutionalised racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the white minority government. Jordan, an American poet and activist, wrote this piece to express solidarity with the women on the front lines of the anti-apartheid struggle, urging them to recognise their inherent power and agency amidst profound oppression. The quote serves as a rallying cry, rejecting the notion of external saviours during a time of immense political and social strife.
Meaning & Interpretation
The quote asserts that the capability and responsibility for creating change, whether personal or societal, lie entirely within the individuals or group currently experiencing the challenge. It is a potent rejection of the passive expectation that an external 'hero,' a future generation, or an 'ideal' moment will arrive to solve present problems. Instead, it places the onus squarely on collective agency and immediate, self-determined action. Essentially, it means that if a better future is desired, those who desire it must be the ones to bring it into existence, using their own will and resources.
When to Use This Quote
This quote is particularly relevant when encouraging groups or individuals to take ownership of a challenge rather than deferring responsibility or waiting for external intervention. It's excellent for motivating teams embarking on difficult projects, inspiring communities facing systemic issues, or empowering individuals to overcome personal hurdles. Use it to foster a sense of collective agency, instil confidence in self-reliance, and underscore the urgency of immediate action when progress is stalled by a pervasive 'waiting for someone else' mentality. It serves as a powerful call to seize the moment and activate inherent capabilities.
