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.

Get them to sing your song and they will want to know who you are.

The answer to injustice is not to silence the critic but to end the injustice.

Artists are the gate keepers of truth. We are civilization’s radical voice.

Americans will be amazed to find ho many of the modern dance steps are relics of the African heritage.

I feel closer to my country than ever. There is no longer a feeling of lonesome isolation. Instead-peace. I return without fearing prejudice that once bothered me . . . for I know that people practice cruel bigotry in their ignorance, not maliciously

Could I say that the reason that I am here today, you know, from the mouth of the State Department itself, is: I should not be allowed to travel because I have struggled for years for the independence of the colonial peoples of Africa.