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?

One dance had made me the most famous colored woman in the world.

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?

All my life, I have maintained that the people of the world can learn to live together in peace if they are not brought up in prejudice.

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?

God dislikes evil, and no happiness can be built on hate. Love one another as brothers.

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.