There comes a time in every person's life when he has to choose the course his life will take.

When I heard the truth about my name was not Cassius Clay, like I knew a black man in America named John Hawkins. Now, you know who John Hawkins was.He was a slave trader from England. But the white people of that time, if one had five slaves and his name was Jones, they would be called Jones' property. [...] Now that I'm free, now that I'm no longer a slave, then I want a name of my ancestors.

Be loud, be pretty and keep their black-hatin' asses in their chairs

We're not trying to take power away or rule anybody - we're just trying to get up from under the rulers.

What I will remember most about Mr Mandela is that he was a man whose heart, soul and spirit could not be contained or restrained by racial and economic injustices, metal bars or the burden of hate and revenge.

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.

Put yourself out on a limb, sucka, like me!