I ran away from St. Louis, and then I ran away from the United States, because of that terror of discrimination.

Art is an elastic sort of love.

We've got to show that blacks and whites are treated equally in the army. Otherwise, what's the point of waging war on Hitler?

I did take the blows [of life], but I took them with my chin up, in dignity, because I so profoundly love and respect humanity.

I believe if the white and colored people could get together and be let alone, they would understand each other and consequently love each other.

We must change the system of education and instruction. Unfortunately, history has shown us that brotherhood must be learned, when it should be natural.

I have never really been a great artist. I have been a human being that has loved art, which is not the same thing. But I have loved and believed in art and the idea of universal brotherhood so much, that I have put everything I have into them, and I have been blessed.