As Americans, preserving the best of our traditions, we have the right- nay the duty-to fight for participation in the forward march of humanity

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.

You want to shut up every Negro who has the courage to stand up and fight for the rights of his people, for the rights of workers, and I have been on many a picket line for the steelworkers too.

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.

In my music, my plays, my films, I want to carry always this central idea: to be African.

My future depends mostly upon myself.

But the deep desire for peace remained with the American people.