Top 12 Quotes by Timothy Thomas Fortune

Ours is supposed to be a government in which classes and distinctions melt into a harmonious whole. Until we reach this ideal of government, we will be a distracted, contentious people.

Ours is supposed to be a government in which classes and distinctions melt into a harmonious whole. Until we reach this ideal of government, we will be a distracted, contentious people.

Timothy Thomas Fortune

Government, Class, People

Mental inertia is death.

Timothy Thomas Fortune

Inertia

Timothy Thomas Fortune (2008). “T. Thomas Fortune, the Afro-American Agitator: A Collection of Writings, 1880-1928”

We are African in origin and American in birth.

Timothy Thomas Fortune

Birth

Our history in this country dates from the moment that restless men among us became restless under oppression and rose against it . . . Agitation, contentions, ceaseless unrest, constant aspiring -- a race so moved must prevail.

Timothy Thomas Fortune

Country, Men, Race

Timothy Thomas Fortune (2008). “T. Thomas Fortune, the Afro-American Agitator: A Collection of Writings, 1880-1928”

The race cannot succeed, nor build strong citizens, until we have a race of women competent to do more than bear a brood of negative men.

Timothy Thomas Fortune

Strong, Men, Race

It is not safe in the republican form of government that clannishness should exist either by compulsory or voluntary reason. It is not good for the government and it is not good for the individual.

Timothy Thomas Fortune

Government, Safe, Republican

Timothy Thomas Fortune (1884). “Black and White: Land, Labor, and Politics in the South”

Mob law is the most forcible expression of an abnormal public opinion; it shows that society is rotten to the core.

Timothy Thomas Fortune

Expression, Law, Public Opinion

Timothy Thomas Fortune, Seth Moglen (2007). “Black and White: Land, Labor, and Politics in the South”, Simon and Schuster

Men may be spoiled by education, even as they are spoiled by illiteracy. Education is the preparation of the mind for future work, hence men should be educated with special reference to the work.

Timothy Thomas Fortune

Men, Preparation, Mind

We must learn to lean upon ourselves; we must learn to plan and execute business enterprises of our own; we must learn to venture our pennies if we would gain dollars.

Timothy Thomas Fortune

Dollars, Venture, Gains

Timothy Thomas Fortune (2008). “T. Thomas Fortune, the Afro-American Agitator: A Collection of Writings, 1880-1928”

The colored man is in the South to stay there. He will not leave it voluntarily and he cannot be driven out. He had no voice in being carried into the South, but he will have a very loud voice in any attempt to put him out.

Timothy Thomas Fortune

Men, Loud Voices, Driven

Timothy Thomas Fortune, Seth Moglen (2007). “Black and White: Land, Labor, and Politics in the South”, Simon and Schuster

I do not inveigh against higher education, I simply maintain that the sort of education the colored people of the South stand most in need of, is elementary and industrial. They should be instructed for the work to be done.

Timothy Thomas Fortune

People, Needs, Done

Timothy Thomas Fortune, Seth Moglen (2007). “Black and White: Land, Labor, and Politics in the South”, Simon and Schuster

The white men of the South had better make up their minds that the blacks will remain in the South just as long as corn will tassel and cotton will bloom into whiteness.

Timothy Thomas Fortune

Men, White Man, Long

Timothy Thomas Fortune, Seth Moglen (2007). “Black and White: Land, Labor, and Politics in the South”, Simon and Schuster