The white imagination is sure something when it comes to blacks.

I wasn't really naked. I simply didn't have any clothes on.

I spent 30 minutes each morning rubbing my body with half a lemon to lighten my skin.

I think they must mix blood, otherwise the human race is bound to degenerate. Mixing blood is marvelous. It makes strong and intelligent men. It takes away tired spirits.

The hate directed against the colored people here in St. Louis has always given me a sad feeling... How can you expect the world to believe in you and respect your preaching of democracy when you yourself treat your colored brothers as you do?

You must get an education. You must go to school, and you must learn to protect yourself. And you must learn to protect yourself with the pen, and not the gun.

Each time I leaped I seemed to touch the sky and when I regained earth it seemed to be mine alone.