Despite of it all, the Negro remains... cool, strong, imperturbable, and cheerful.

The Federal Government was never, in its essence, anything but an anti-slavery government.

The sunlight that has brought life and healing to you has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth of July is yours, not mine.

Every tone was a testimony against slavery, and a prayer to God for deliverance from chains.

Fortune may crowd a man's life with fortunate circumstances and happy opportunities, but they will, as we all know, avail him nothing unless he makes a wise and vigorous use of them.

If we ever get free from all the oppressions and wrongs heaped upon us, we must pay for their removal. We must do this by labor, by suffering, by sacrifice, and, if needs be, by our lives, and the lives of others.

Poverty, ignorance and degradation are the combined evils, these constitute the social disease of the free colored people of the US.