"Who ever walked behind anyone to freedom? If we can't go hand in hand, I don't want to go"

Hazel Scott’s assertion, “Who ever walked behind anyone to freedom? If we can’t go hand in hand, I don’t want to go,” fiercely challenges hierarchical structures and passive compliance in the struggle for liberation. Her words reject any notion of progress that requires subordination or inequality, stressing the necessity for unity and equality in the journey toward justice and freedom. The rhetorical question “Who ever walked behind anyone to freedom?” disrupts conventional narratives where liberation is sometimes thought of as something passively given or achieved through dependency on benevolent leaders; instead, Scott insists that true freedom is never attained by those relegated to the background or forced to follow.

Scott’s insistence on going “hand in hand” articulates a vision of collective action, collaboration, and mutual respect. It points toward a liberation that is inclusive, where no one is valued above another and every person has agency. This phrase underscores the fundamental value of solidarity, especially among marginalized communities. She refuses to accept any form of emancipation that requires leaving some people behind or minimizing their voices. Her words are a subtle critique of social movements and leaders who prioritize their own advancement or status over genuine equality and shared advancement.

The latter part, “I don’t want to go,” is a powerful act of resistance in itself. Scott is willing to forgo progress or even protest if it comes at the expense of equality and dignity. She demands that liberation processes embody the justice they seek to create, not merely in outcome but also in method. Her statement embodies a moral stance that recognizes the interconnectedness of human dignity and the responsibility to refuse half-freedoms or token inclusion. Ultimately, these words from Hazel Scott champion a vision where freedom is a shared experience, reached side by side, not something received from above or behind, but built together, step by step, as equals.