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?

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.

You are on the eve of a complete victory. You can't go wrong. The world is behind you.

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

I shall dance all my life. . . . I would like to die, breathless, spent, at the end of a dance.

When I was a child and they burned me out of my home, I was frightened and I ran away. Eventually I ran far away. It was to a place called France. Many of you have been there, and many have not. But I must tell you, ladies and gentlemen, in that country I never feared. It was like a fairyland place.

A violinist had a violin, a painter his palette. All I had was myself. I was the instrument that I must care for.