“When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.” Ralph Ellison
“America doesn’t respect anything but money. What our people need is a few millionaires.” Madame C.J. Walker
“In all things that are purely social, we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.” Booker T. Washington
“Before a group can enter the open society, it must first close ranks.” Stokeley Carmichael and Charles V. Hamilton
“The thing that makes you exceptional, if you are at all, is inevitably that which must also make you lonely.” Lorraine Hansberry
“To the ordinary American or Englishman, the race question at bottom is simply a matter of ownership of women; white men want the right to use all women, colored and white, and they resent the intrusion of colored men in this domain.” W.E.B. DuBois
“Men are not women, and a man’s balance depends on the weight he carries between his legs.” James Baldwin
“Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us.” Susan L. Taylor
Both tears and sweat are salty, but they render a different result. Tears will get you sympathy; sweat will get you change. Jesse Jackson, African-American civil rights activist
He who is courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life. Muhammad Ali, African-American professional prize fighter
I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody. Bill Cosby, American actor and comedian
Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: “I’m with you kid. Let’s go.” Maya Angelou, African- American poet
Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly. Langston Hughes, African-American poet
Success doesn’t come to you...you go to it. Marva Collins, African American Educator
Do the right thing. Spike Lee, African-American film director
Just don’t give up what you’re trying to do. Where there is Love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong. Ella Fitzgerald, American singer
Not everything that is faced can be changed until it is faced. James Baldwin, African American author
How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because some day in life you will have been all these. George Washington Carver, African-American scientist
I can do something else besides stuff a ball through a hoop. My biggest resource is my mind. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, African -American professional basketball player
The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at work. Michael Jackson, African-American singer
If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michealangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare composed poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, “Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” Martin Luther King, African-American civil rights leader
I don’t think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as someone who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good. Oprah Winfrey, American TV host
You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. Michael Jordan, African-American basketball player
In all our deeds, the proper value and respect for time determines success or failure. Malcolm X, African-American author, activist
Mix a conviction with a man and something happens. Adam Clayton Powell, African-American politician
I feel that the most important requirement in success is learning to overcome failure. You must learn to tolerate it, but never accept it. Reggie Jackson, African-American baseball player
To me, we must learn to spell the word RESPECT. We must respect the rights and properties of our fellowman. And then learn to play the game of life, as well as the game of athletics, according to the rules of society. If you can take that and put it into practice in the community in which you live, then, to me you have won the greatest championship. Jesse Owens, African-American Olympic Champion
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Martin Luther King, African -American civil rights leader
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