Black History Quotes

you must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.

The world is a severe schoolmaster, for its frowns are less dangerous than its smiles and flatteries, and it is a difficult task to keep in the path of wisdom.

Revolution is a serious thing, the most serious thing about a revolutionarys life. When one commits oneself to the struggle, it must be for a lifetime.

I felt that one had better die fighting against injustice than to die like a dog or rat in a trap. I had already determined to sell my life as dearly as possible if attacked. I felt if I could take one lyncher with me, this would even up the score a little bit.

An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose.

There is no negro problem. The problem is whether the American people have loyalty enough, honor enough, patriotism enough, to live up to their own constitution

The United States has been called the melting pot of the world. But it seems to me that the colored man either missed getting into the pot or he got melted down.

How are we going to get rid of racism? Stop talking about it!

America will tolerate the taking of a human life without giving it a second thought. But don't misuse a household pet.

You can be up to your boobies in white satin, with gardenias in your hair and no sugar cane for miles, but you can still be working on a plantation.

The question is not whether we can afford to invest in every child; it is whether we can afford not to.

The impatient idealist says: 'Give me a place to stand and I shall move the earth.' But such a place does not exist. We all have to stand on the earth itself and go with her at her pace.

I don't want a Black History Month. Black history is American history.

Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, . . . neither persons nor property will be safe.

I came back to Louisville after the Olympics with my shiny gold medal. Went into a luncheonette where black folks couldn't eat. Thought I'd put them on the spot. I sat down and asked for a meal. The Olympic champion wearing his gold medal. They said, "We don't serve niggers here." I said, "That's okay, I don't eat 'em." But they put me out in the street. So I went down to the river, the Ohio River, and threw my gold medal in it.

No race has a monopoly on vice or virtue, and the worth of an individual is not related to the color of his skin.

I don't believe in fear - I live my life without regrets.

You're either part of the solution or you're part of the problem.

As long as we are not ourselves, we will try to be what other people are.

Won't it be wonderful when black history and native American history and Jewish history and all of U.S. history is taught from one book. Just U.S. history.

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered.

I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person.

If you want to get an idea across, wrap it up in a person.

The great thing about serving the poor is that there is no competition.

What is possible for me is possible for you.