Seems to me that the institutions that function in this country are clearly racist, and that they're built upon racism.

Dr. King's policy was, if you are nonviolent, if you suffer, your opponent will see your suffering and will be moved to change his heart. That's very good. He only made one fallacious assumption. In order for nonviolence to work, your opponent must have a conscience. The United States has none.

Our grandfathers had to run, run, run. My generation's out of breath. We ain't running no more.

I maintain that every civil rights bill in this country was passed for white people, not for black people.

It is a call for black people in this country to unite, to recognize their heritage, to build a sense of community. It is a call for black people to define their own goals, to lead their own organizations.

I also know that while I am black I am a human being, and therefore I have the right to go into any public place. White people didn't know that.Every time I tried to go into a place they stopped me

The secret of life is to have no fear; it's the only way to function.