“Exploring Unheard Narratives: 120 Motivating Quotes for Black History Month to Nourish Your Spirit”
1. “Never let others’ limited imaginations restrict you.” —Dr. Mae Jemison, the pioneering African-American female astronaut
2. “I reject the notion that humanity is forever chained to the darkness of racism and conflict, and that the brilliant dawn of peace and unity can never come to fruition… I believe that truth and love without boundaries will prevail in the end.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.
3. “The price of freedom is lower than the cost of oppression.” —W.E.B. Du Bois
4. “Acknowledging the humanity in others is the greatest homage we pay to ourselves.” —Thurgood Marshall, the first African American member of the U.S. Supreme Court
5. “Hate is too heavy a burden to bear. It harms the hater more than the hated.” —Coretta Scott King
6. “Our beliefs about ourselves and our capabilities shape our reality.” —Susan L. Taylor, a journalist
7. “Defining myself, rather than letting others define me, is one of my greatest challenges.” —Carol Moseley-Braun, a politician and lawyer
8. “One day, future generations will find it astonishing that we placed so much emphasis on superficial traits such as skin color, eye shape, or gender, instead of celebrating the richness of each person’s unique identity as complex individuals.” —Franklin Thomas, an activist and former president of the Ford Foundation
9. “My humanity is intertwined with yours, as we can only truly be human collectively.” —Desmond Tutu
10. “Hold onto your dreams, for when dreams fade, life becomes a wounded bird unable to soar.” —Langston Hughes
And so on…
“We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not yet learned the simple art of living together as brothers. Our abundance has brought us neither peace of mind nor serenity of spirit.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.
“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” —Muhammad Ali
“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” —Nelson Mandela
“The need for change bulldozed a road down the center of my mind.” —Maya Angelou
“Truth is powerful and it prevails.” —Sojourner Truth
“I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” —Michael Jordan
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” —Barack Obama
“Hold on to your dreams of a better life and stay committed to striving to realize it.” —Earl G. Graves, Sr.
“Won’t it be wonderful when black history and Native American history and Jewish history and all of U.S. history is taught from one book. Just U.S. history.” —Maya Angelou
“I don’t want a Black History Month. Black history is American history.” —Morgan Freeman
“It’s important for us to also understand that the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ simply refers to the notion that there’s a specific vulnerability for African Americans that needs to be addressed. It’s not meant to suggest that other lives don’t matter. It’s to suggest that other folks aren’t experiencing this particular vulnerability.” —Barack Obama
“I swear to the Lord I still can’t see why democracy means everybody but me.” —Langston Hughes
“Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.
“I felt that one had better die fighting against injustice than to die like a dog or rat in a trap. I had already determined to sell my life as early as possible if attacked. I felt if I could take one lyncher with me, this would even up the score a little bit.” —Ida B. Wells
“I’m not quite sure what freedom is, but I know damn well what it ain’t. How have we gotten so silly, I wonder.” —Assata Shakur
“I knew then and I know now, when it comes to justice, there is no easy way to get it.” —Claudette Colvin
“During Black History Month, I’m reminded yet again of the ways that the struggle for civil rights is interwoven with the struggle for workers’ rights.” —Tom Perez
“Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise. I rise.
45. “I am America, a part you may not recognize. Get used to me – black, confident, cocky. My name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own. Get used to me.” – Muhammad Ali
46. “Have a vision of excellence, a dream of success, and work like hell.” – Dr. Samuel DuBois Cook
47. “Racism isn’t born, folks, it’s taught. I have a two-year-old son. You know what he hates? Naps! That’s the end of the list.” – Dennis Leary
48. “Today we know with certainty that segregation is dead. The only question remaining is how costly the funeral will be.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
49. “‘We, the people.’ It is a very eloquent beginning. But when that document was completed on the seventeenth of September in 1787, I was not included in that ‘We, the people.’ I felt somehow for many years that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake. But through the process of amendment, interpretation, and court decision, I have finally been included in ‘We, the people.’” – Barbara Jordan
50. “I had no idea that history was being made. I was just tired of giving up.” – Rosa Parks
51. “Racism is man’s gravest threat to man – the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason.” – Abraham Joshua Heschel
And so on…
ed. Martin Luther King and Muhammad Ali radiate with brightness that stems from constantly striving to shine even brighter.” —Jay-Z
“Impossible is merely a term used by those who prefer to accept the world as it is rather than challenge themselves to change it. It is not a fact, but merely an opinion. It is not a declaration, but a challenge. Impossible holds potential and is only temporary. Impossible is nothing.” —Muhammad Ali
“Always do your best until you gain more knowledge, and then strive to do better.” —Maya Angelou
“Respect is a fundamental human right that we all deserve, regardless of gender or race.” —Aretha Franklin
“The complexity of black history surpasses anything that could be fabricated.” —Henry Louis Gates
“Black History Month should serve not just as a time of reflection, but as a tribute to our past and a reminder of the work that still lies ahead.” —Marty Meehan
“Black history is not separate; it is part of our shared American history, influencing children’s values and perceptions.” —Karyn Parsons
“Do not dwell, take action.” —Florynce Kennedy
“Eliminate anything that brings you down, for true freedom allows your authentic self to shine.” —Tina Turner
“If there’s a book you want to read that hasn’t been written, you must write it yourself.” —Toni Morrison
“There are many causes worth fighting for and much history yet to be made.” —Michelle Obama
“We must stand firmly grounded on this earth and move forward at its pace.” —Chinua Achebe
“Confidence is key to achieving victory.” —Carl Lewis
“Expand your mind and soar.” —Whitney M. Young Jr
“Never let obstacles hinder your progress. Disappointment may come, but perseverance is essential.” —Sadie T. M. Alexander
“Remember: never give up and keep pushing forward.” —Duke Ellington
“Embrace your true self and trust in your instincts.” —Dizzy Gillespie
“Understanding one’s heritage and identity is essential, like roots are to a tree.” —Dick Gregory
“Knowing your past empowers you to reach limitless heights.” —James Baldwin
“Our remarkable history serves as inspiration for greater achievements.” —Carter G. Woodson
“The future is so bright that it dazzles my eyes.” —Oprah Winfrey
“People often relinquish their power by believing they possess none.” —Alice Walker
“You are your greatest asset.” —Toni Morrison
“Feminism, to me, is akin to embracing my Blackness – it compels me to love and respect myself as if my life hinges on it.” —June Jordan
“I must see my own beauty and consistently remind myself that I am deserving of love effortlessly, that I am beautiful just as I am.” —Tracee Ellis Ross
“Service is no longer being provided.” —Nina Simone
“Even if it makes others uncomfortable, I will embrace who I am.” —Janelle Monáe
“You are in your current position because you have been supported by others. As you move forward, remember that you cannot succeed alone. By standing on the shoulders of those before you, you have a duty to live in a way that supports others to stand on your shoulders in the future. It is the give and take of life. We may exist momentarily through what we receive, but our legacy lives on through what we give.” —Vernon Jordan
“Imperfection is essential for learning and growth.” —Beyonce Knowles
“Freedom is not a gift that one can grant to another. It must be claimed as a right, and no one can deny it.” —Kwame Nkrumah
“I had to create my own opportunities and make my own way. Sitting and waiting for opportunities is not the path to success. Get up and create them.” —Madam C.J. Walker
“To correct injustices, we must expose them to the light of truth.” —Ida B. Wells
“I had thought deeply about my circumstances; I had a right to either liberty or death. If I could not have one, I would choose the other. No one would take me alive; I would fight for my freedom until my strength gave out, and when my time came, I would leave this earth on my own terms.” —Harriet Tubman
“Focus on making a difference beyond yourself.” —Toni Morrison
“True heroism is not about outdoing others at any cost, but about serving others at any cost.” —Arthur Ashe
“Emancipation is always close at hand in God’s time. He placed the North Star in the sky, gave me strength in my limbs, and intended for me to be free.” —Harriet Tubman
“The key to realizing dreams is to wake up and take action.” —Mae C. Jemison
“Injustice in one place threatens justice everywhere.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.
“True battles are not fought for gold medals but within oneself – the internal struggles that we all face are where true challenges lie.” —Jesse Owens
“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the human spirit. We all have the potential for greatness within us.” —Wilma Rudolph
“Africa, to me, is not just a geographical location but a historical truth. Understanding our past and how we arrived at our present is crucial for knowing where we are headed.” —Maya Angelou
“Each time someone stands up for an ideal, works to improve the lives of others, or fights against injustice, they send out a ripple of hope. These ripples, crisscrossing from countless sources, build a current that can break down even the strongest barriers of oppression and resistance.” —Robert F
101. “There is a unique kind of beauty in returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.” —Nelson Mandela
102. “Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.” —Martin Luther King Jr.
103. “The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less.” —Eldridge Cleaver
104. “There is no vaccine for racism.” —Kamala Harris
105. “Do we care to match the reality of America to its ideals?” —Barack Obama
106. “We will all, at some point, encounter hurdles to gaining access and entry, moving up and conquering self-doubt; but on the other side is the capacity to own opportunity and tell our own story.” —Stacey Abrams
107. “Friendly reminder that you don’t have to say the ‘n word’ to be racist. That’s not the sole requirement. Asking people to prove racism is another tool the oppressor uses to marginalize and discredit us.” —Lizzo
108. “The very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being.” —Toni Morrison
109. “The beauty of anti-racism is that you don’t have to pretend to be free of racism to be anti-racist. Anti-racism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including in yourself. And it’s the only way forward.” —Ijoema Oluo
110. “Ours is not the struggle of one day, one week, or one year. Ours is not the struggle of one judicial appointment or presidential term. Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or maybe even many lifetimes, and each one of us in every generation must do our part.” —John Lewis
111. “Activism is my rent for living on the planet.” —Alice Walker
112. “In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist. We must be anti-racist.” —Angela Davis
113. ”We must never forget that Black History is American History. The achievements of African Americans have contributed to our nation’s greatness.” —Yvette Clarke
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