Big Mama Said: You Cannot Think Big When Little Got You

By Terry Allen

Lucille “Big Mama” Allen was a woman of faith, wisdom, and unfaltering conviction. Her phrase, “You cannot think big when little got you!” wasn’t just a catchy saying—it was a battle cry urging us to rise above the distractions of the trivial to see the bigger picture. Big Mama believed that the path to victory required uniting small wins to create a lasting legacy.

One of her lessons comes to mind as we consider the incoming wave of presidential appointments. Big Mama would remind us not to fixate on individual unqualified choices while missing the larger issue—the broken system of review and vetting. She’d say, “Don’t argue over the deck chairs when the ship’s steering is off.”

Big Mama would challenge us to focus on overhauling the process itself, ensuring the ship sails steadily for generations. Similarly, Big Mama would steer us away from obsessing over micro-analyzing election outcomes. She’d say, “Quit counting pennies when you need a dollar plan!” It’s not about reliving where we fell short but building a new infrastructure in our democracy—one that energizes voters and meets their needs with conviction and clarity.

Big Mama knew that big wins come when we focus on creating systems that prioritize solutions over finger-pointing. She would echo the Honorable Deval Patrick’s charge to the Democrats, “Get a Back Bone!”

Finally, Big Mama would have strong words for how we digest the news. “Don’t base tomorrow’s decisions on today’s gossip!” she’d say. Instead of reacting to conversational news cycles, she’d implore us to harness the power of Black media—our voices of truth and advocacy—to inform, educate, and strategize.

Big Mama believed this was key to preventing the erosion of the advancements we’ve fought so hard to achieve.

Big Mama’s wisdom transcended time. Her enduring lesson? Don’t get hung up on petty issues. Focus on uniting the small battles to secure the big picture. She always reminded us that we’re created to serve God by loving and lifting one another. So rise up, because Big Mama said so.

Terry Allen is an NABJ award-winning journalist, DEI expert, PR professional, and founder of the charity. He is also the Vice President at FocusPR, Founder of City Men Cook, and Dallas Chapter President of NBPRS.org.