The talents of an artist, small or large, are God-given... They are a sacred trust.

As an artist I come to sing, but as a citizen, I will always speak for peace, and no one can silence me in this.

Every artist, every scientist, every writer must decide now where he stands. The artist must take sides. He must elect to fight for freedom or for slavery. I have made my choice. I had no alternative.

Through the years I have received my share of recognition for efforts in the fields of sports, the arts, the struggle for full citizenship for the Negro people, labor's rights and the fight for peace.

Why should the Negroes ever fight against the only nations of the world where racial discrimination is prohibited, and where the people can live freely? Never! I can assure you, they will never fight against either the Soviet Union or the peoples' democracies.

My father was a slave and my people died to build this country and I am going to stay here and have a part of it just like you.

The intolerance of the few, or the risk of it, carries the day against the wider humanity of the many.