I learned so much from listening to people. And all I knew was, the only thing I had was honesty and openness.

The transformation of silence into language and action is an act of self-revelation .

Anger is an appropriate reaction to racist attitudes, as is fury when the actions arising from those attitudes do not change.

It is not the destiny of Black America to repeat white America's mistakes. But we will, if we mistake the trappings of success in a sick society for the signs of a meaningful life.

The quality of light by which we scrutinize our lives has direct bearing upon the product which we live, and upon the changes which we hope to bring about through those lives.

You cannot use someone else's fire. You can only use your own. And in order to do that, you must first be willing to believe that you have it.

You know how fighting fish do it? They blow bubbles and in each one of those bubbles is an egg and they float the egg up to the surface. They keep this whole heavy nest of eggs floating, and they're constantly repairing it. It's as if they live in both elements.