Black Lightning: Top 10 Jefferson Pierce Quotes

Jefferson Pierce is one of the most well-spoken superheroes DC has, serving as a hero both in his life as the vigilante Black Lightning and as Principal Pierce. Between his two roles, he provides Black Lightning with some memorable and impactful quotes.

Between the show and its crossovers, Jefferson’s best quotes demonstrate how significant of a hero Jefferson is and how important it will be for him to maintain a presence in the Arrowverse moving forward, despite the end of Black Lightning.

Snarky One-Liners

“Now You Should At Least Give A Brother A Moment To Say Something Heroically Clever. Now You’ve Just Pissed Me Off.”

DC superheroes are known for their snappy one-liners in battle, and Black Lightning is no exclusion to the rule. After being shot, Jefferson quips that he wasn’t even given time to come up with a good “heroically clever” line to say. The irony, of course, is that his complaint is a clever comment in its own right.

Many of the plots in Black Lightning are significantly darker than those in other CW DC shows since they are based on real-world racism and politics. Because of that, it’s so important that Jefferson throw a little humor out to keep the show entertaining, instead of being overly draining to watch.

Returning To The Superhero Life

“It Is Time That People Know That Black Lightning Is Back.”

Jefferson got out of the superhero life for a while to take care of his children and to try to put his family back together. His wife, Lynn, sees Jefferson being a superhero as an addiction to fighting and heroics that keeps him from supporting his family properly.

However, he has to get back in the game when a series of threats rise that threatens all of Freeland, including his girls. He says this critical line when he decides to take up the mantle of Black Lightning again, wanting the people in his community to feel safe knowing they have a superhero who is there for people like them.

His Perspective On His Powers

“Do You Remember What You Said When We Discovered My Powers? You Said It Was A Gift. A Blessing From God. It’s Still A Gift. It’s Still A Blessing From God. And I Intend To Use It.”

After Lawanda dies, Jefferson has an identity crisis. He had been willing to give up being a superhero because he believed he could save as many people as an educator as he could as a superhero. Seeing someone die that he could have saved makes him reconsider, and in doing so, he tries to get his ex-wife back on board.

He refers back to when he first developed powers that Lynn called a gift and blessing from God. He says it still is, and that he will use it to protect his people, rather than letting his suit and abilities collect dust for the sake of making Lynn happy. This is one of many decisions that make Jefferson the bravest character on the show.

His Advice

“Oliver Queen Wasn’t A Quitter. He’d Never Quit On You. So Don’t You Dare Quit On Yourself.”

In the latest crossover event The Flash: “Apocalypse,” Barry tries to activate the Injustice Protocol to get Jefferson to rid him of his super speed. Jefferson repeatedly tries to convince him otherwise before appealing to the memory of Oliver Queen.

Oliver sacrificed his life for Barry, Kara, and the rest of the multiverse, and Jefferson reminds Barry not to let that sacrifice be in vain due to a moment of self-doubt.

His Purpose

“I Was There. I Saw What You Did From Under The Bed. And I Dedicated My Life To Bringing You To Justice.”

In the second-to-last episode of Black Lightning, Jefferson confronts the dangerously intelligent Tobias Whale, who admits to killing Jefferson’s father. Jefferson tells him that he already knows, informing him that his father’s death was his purpose in becoming Black Lightning, taking on the mantle to avenge his father.

While Tobias wins the fight, nearly managing to kill Jefferson, this is a powerful moment for Jefferson to claim his mission, which he eventually completes in the show’s finale.

Living By Example

“I Accept Full Responsibility For The Consequences Of My Actions. As I Would Expect From Each And Every One Of You. But I’m Not Going Anywhere.”

Jefferson is forced to step down from being principal of Garfield High after he was not around (as Jefferson Pierce) when his school got attacked. In his final address as principal, he takes responsibility for his actions and accepts the consequences, stating that he would expect the same behavior from his students.

Youtube Commenter The Hydra praises the scene and the quote, claiming, “This is what made Jefferson a good teacher and principal in my opinion. He led by example, he didn’t see himself as beyond. While he wants to still be principal, he chose to accept the consequences and use it as a moment to teach his students one last time as principal. That’s why Freeland respects Jefferson Pearce.”

A Teacher’s Mission

“Tavon Is Dead. And I Will Not Have Another Kid Die On My Watch.”

After a teenager ends up dead, there is conflict at Garfield High, in which students begin facing off against the police. Despite no longer being principal, Jefferson stands between his students and the police, refusing to let another kid die when he could do something to stop it.

This is one of many arcs about the dangers of being black in an over-policed area, and this moment makes Jefferson more of a hero than his actions as Black Lightning, standing in front of the police and taking their hits to protect students who don’t deserve to be hurt.

Defending His Students’ Privacy

“Look, I Will Not Treat My Students Like Criminals. Do You Realize Almost All Of These Kids Know Someone In Prison? Yeah, Their Mothers Or Fathers, Or Aunties, Uncles. Now, I Will Not Turn My School Into Another Jail.”

When the government and school board decide to make Garfield High a ‘safer place’ by locking down security and planning to install metal detectors, Jefferson takes a stand, saying that would turn the school into a jail, lessening the students’ freedom and making the school-to-prison pipeline more explicit.

Many of Jefferson’s best lines come from his time as the principal and as a teacher, when he takes a stand for his students to make the structural change he wants to see in the world.

His Code

“I’ve Come Up With A Code. Three Rules That We Will Follow. Rule Number #1: We Don’t Tell Anybody Who We Are. Rule Number #2: You Always Have Back-Up. Rule Number #3: We Don’t Kill. Ever.”

When Anissa decides to dabble in the world of superheroes, Jefferson does everything he can to keep her out of it. But Anissa is as stubborn as he is, and Jennifer’s growing powers make it so she will later join the family business as well. Realizing he can’t stop them, Jefferson lays down three rules for his daughters and himself when it comes to being a superhero.

These three rules protect their secrecy and bodily security, but they also show what kind of hero Jefferson is going to be, drawing a clear line at killing as the place he never wants himself or his daughters to cross. His acceptance of his daughters’ choices regarding their powers is just one of many places when Jefferson grows tremendously as a character.

His Mantra

“Where’s The Future? Right Here. Whose Life Is This? Mine.  So What Are You Gonna Do With It? Live It, By Any Means Necessary.”

Throughout Black Lightning, Jefferson repeats his mantra to his family, to other superheroes, and to the high school students he protects and teaches. The mantra emphasizes the preciousness of every individual’s life and their need to live that life their way every day.

The mantra repeats often so that viewers take in its messages as much as the characters, and provide for a great “O Captain, My Captain” moment when Jefferson is forced to step down as Principal.