I had to fight hard against loneliness, abuse, and the knowledge that any mistakes I made would be magnified because I was the only black man out there... I never cared about acceptance as much as I cared about respect.

There's not an American in this country free until every one of us is free.

I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.

It's not easy to be a martyr in the field of race relations.

Above anything else, I hate to lose.

I am not concerned with being liked or disliked. I am concerned with being respected

I had to fight hard against loneliness, abuse, and the knowledge that any mistakes I made would be magnified because I was the only black man out there... I never cared about acceptance as much as I cared about respect.