I think that you're just as close to Jesus if you use the equipment he gave you other than to call on him to do for you what you can do for yourself.

I want to make it clear that the black race did not come to the United States culturally empty-handed. The role and importance of ethnic history is in how well it teaches a people to use their own talents, take pride in their own history and love their own memories.

Now, Jews integrate but they don't destroy their institutions. They don't close the synagogue. They don't stop having special Jewish graveyards. They don't stop having special Jewish holidays. Why can't we understand that we can have things special to us and still comingle and integrate with others.

When the early Europeans first met Africans, at the crossroads of history, it was a respectful meeting and the Africans were not slaves. Their nations were old before Europe was born.

To hold a people in oppression you have to convince them first that they are supposed to be oppressed.

To be black and beautiful means nothing in this world unless we are black and powerful.

I attended a Baptist church as a child and was an avid reader starting with the Bible.