Inspirational and Thought-Provoking Quotes From 14 Influential Black Leaders

black leaders malcolmMalcolm X

-Human Rights Activist, Muslim Minister-

“Usually when people are sad, they don’t do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change.”

“We declare our right on this earth to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.”

“By Any Means Necessary,” (1970)

“We are African, and we happened to be in America. We’re not American. We are people who formerly were Africans who were kidnapped and brought to America. Our forefathers weren’t the Pilgrims. We didn’t land on Plymouth Rock. The rock was landed on us. We were brought here against our will. We were not brought here to be made citizens. We were not brought here to enjoy the constitutional gifts that they speak so beautifully about today.”

Speech at Founding Rally of the Organization of Afro-American Unity, ( June 28, 1964)

black leaders kwame 1Kwame Nkrumah

-First Prime Minister of Ghana-

“Capitalism is a development by refinement from feudalism just as feudalism is a development by refinement from slavery. Capitalism is but the gentleman’s method of slavery.”

“The Jewel of Africa, Vol. 1” (1968), p. 22

“The independence of Ghana is meaningless until it is linked to the total liberation of Africa.”

“Nigerian Defence Policy: Issues and Problems” (1990), p. 55

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