My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

LIBERTY! FREEDOM! DEMOCRACY! True anyhow no matter how many Liars use those words.

I am a Negro: Black as the night is black, Black like the depths of my Africa.

Whiskey just naturally likes me but beer likes me better.

Well, when Christ comes back this time, I hope He comes back mad His own self. I hope He drives the Jim Crowers out of their high places, every living last one of them from Washington to Texas.

It is the duty of the younger Negro artist . . . to change through the force of his art that old whispering "I want to be white," hidden in the aspirations of his people, to "Why should I want to be white? I am a Negro - and beautiful!"

America never was America to me And yet I swear this oath - America will be!