Our goal was not freedom. Freedom was the necessary prerequisite to get to equality.

Look at the coded language the Right is using against President Barack Obama. Openly calling him a liar in Congress, saying he is 'not a Christian, he was not born here, he is not one of us.' That makes addressing such issues trickier for the first African-American in the White House.

Statehood for the District of Columbia is the most important civil rights and social justice issue in America today.

Most blacks will argue that they excel because of hard work, because of intellect, determination, sweat, blood, tears and risk.

I'm a Third World person. I grew up in an occupied zone [Greenville, South Carolina] and had to negotiate with the superpower, really the colonial power.

Your children need your presence more than your presents.

We must all learn a good lesson - how to live together.