Quote

I realize that I'm black, but I like to be viewed as a person, and this is everybody's wish.

I also know that while I am black I am a human being, and therefore I have the right to go into any public place. White people didn't know that. Every time I tried to go into a place they stopped me.

You want the good life? You live where white people live, you go to school where white people go to school, and you shop where white people shop.

I've never bothered about my color. I never had that thing about being black. If the whole world was like that, maybe there would be more harmony and love. Maybe. I don't have a problem with being black in a white country or being with my people.

I consider myself a human being, a Christian, a father, a husband, so many things, before being a black person.

I'm black because that's the way the world sees me.

I am black, and there's no getting around that, but being black doesn't define every aspect of my life.

I decided, if I'm going to be poor and black and all, the least thing I'm going to do is to try and find out who I am. I created everything about me.

You spend your whole lifetime in your occupation, actually making life clever, easy and convenient for white people. But when you have to get transportation home, you are denied an equal accommodation. Our existence was for the white man's comfort and well-being; we had to accept being deprived of just being human.