"You can't rise as a class. You have to rise individually. It's what many of the civil rights-era people don't understand"

This quote by Alphonso Jackson speaks to the value of specific effort in accomplishing success. He is suggesting that it is insufficient to depend on collective action to cause modification. Rather, everyone needs to take duty for their own success and strive to accomplish it. This is a message that many people from the civil rights era may not comprehend, as they might be more accustomed to depending on collective action to cause modification. Jackson is stressing the value of individual effort and decision in achieving success. He is suggesting that each person should take responsibility for their own success and work hard to attain it. This is a message that is still relevant today, as private effort and decision are still important in attaining success.