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Inspirational and Thought-Provoking Quotes From 14 Influential Black Leaders

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black leaders douglassFrederick Douglass

-Leader of the Abolitionist Movement-

“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.”

Speech on the 24th anniversary of Emancipation in Washington, D.C., (April 1886)

black leaders juliusJulius Nyerere

 -First President of Tanzania-

“Those who receive this privilege therefore, have a duty to repay the sacrifice which others have made. They are like the man who has been given all the food available in a starving village in order that he might have strength to bring supplies back from a distant place. If he takes this food and does not bring help to his brothers, he is a traitor. Similarly, if any of the young men and women who are given an education by the people of this republic adopt attitudes of superiority, or fail to use their knowledge to help the development of this country, then they are betraying our union.”

On higher education, 1960s, UDSM Alumni Newsletter, volume 7. No. 2, (November 2007)

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