45 Black History Month Quotes
As we commemorate Black History Month, it is vital to remember the accomplishments and difficulties of African Americans throughout history. These 45 Black History Month quotes from notable Black leaders, activists, and artists serve as a reminder of the Black community’s strength, perseverance, and power. Each quote on this page provides insight into the lives and opinions of African Americans, from civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X to trailblazers like Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey.
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- Black history month quotes about humanity.
Black history month quotes
Explore these Black history month quotes, each a tribute to the Black experience’s power, perseverance, and beauty. These quotes provide a glimpse into the rich and complicated history of the Black community, whether you are looking for motivation, insight, or a greater knowledge of the Black experience.
“The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.”
W.E.B. DU BOIS
“Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.”
CORETTA SCOTT KING
“I don’t want a Black History Month. Black history is American history.“
MORGAN FREEMAN
“Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us.”
SUSAN L. TAYLOR, JOURNALIST
“Defining myself, as opposed to being defined by others, is one of the most difficult challenges I face.”
CAROL MOSELEY-BRAUN
“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.”
LANGSTON HUGHES
“Black History Month must be more than just a month of remembrance; it should be a tribute to our history and reminder of the work that lies in the months and years ahead.”
MARTY MEEHAN
“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
“Just don’t give up what you’re trying to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.”
ELLA FITZGERALD
“If the only time you think of me as a scientist is during Black History Month, then I must not be doing my job as a scientist.”
NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON
Black history quotes
Black people’s voices have spoken out against injustice, oppression, and prejudice, encouraging future generations to strive for a better society. These Black history quotes continue to ring true today, reminding us of Black people’s tenacity, bravery, and courage in the face of adversity.
“I am America. I am the part you won’t recognize. But 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
“We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right.”
ARETHA FRANKLIN
“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
“The thing about black history is that the truth is so much more complex than anything you could make up.”
HENRY LOUIS GATES
“Black history isn’t a separate history. This is all of our history, this is American history, and we need to understand that. It has such an impact on kids and their values and how they view black people.”
KARYN PARSONS
“There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made.”
MICHELLE OBAMA
“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
“We have a wonderful history behind us…and it is going to inspire us to greater achievements.”
CARTER G. WOODSON
“We must never forget that Black History is American History. The achievements of African Americans have contributed to our nation’s greatness.”
YVETTE CLARKE
African American quotes
We hope our African American quotes will give you the direction and insight you need to overcome life’s obstacles and embrace its possibilities, whether you are looking for inspiration, motivation, or a thought-provoking concept.
“You’re not to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it.”
MALCOLM X
“History has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own.”
MICHELLE OBAMA
“You’re not obligated to win. You’re obligated to keep trying to do the best you can every day.”
MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
FREDERICK DOUGLASS
“If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.”
BARACK OBAMA
“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”
AUDRE LORDE
“Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise. I rise. I rise.”
MAYA ANGELOU
“The outside world told black kids when I was growing up that we weren’t worth anything. But our parents said it wasn’t so, and our churches and our schoolteachers said it wasn’t so. They believed in us, and we, therefore, believed in ourselves.”
MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN
“I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood.”
AUDRE LORDE
“I think education is power. I think that being able to communicate with people is power. One of my main goals on the planet is to encourage people to empower themselves.”
OPRAH WINFREY
“Freedom is never given; it is won.”
A. PHILIP RANDOLPH
“In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.”
MICHAEL JACKSON
“Whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you’ll find that when you’re free . . . your true self comes out.”
TINA TURNER
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
HARRIET TUBMAN
Black history month quotes about humanity.
It’s vital to focus on the accomplishments of Black individuals throughout history and their influence on mankind. One approach to achieve this is by exploring these black history month quotes about humanity from Black leaders, philosophers, and activists who have championed equality, justice, and human rights.
“In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.”
THURGOOD MARSHALL
“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.”
DESMOND TUTU
“I believe our sorrow can make us a better country. I believe our righteous anger can be transformed into more justice and more peace.”
BARACK OBAMA
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
“The time is always right to do what is right.”
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
“Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you’re a man, you take it.”
MALCOLM X
“Can we see in each other a common humanity, a shared dignity, and recognize how our different experiences have shaped us?”
BARACK OBAMA
“When I dare to be powerful — to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”
AUDRE LORDE
45 Black History Month celebrates the struggles and achievements of Black people. They serve as a reminder of the challenges Black people have endured and continue to confront while recognizing their triumphs and contributions to society with messages of courage, perseverance, and optimism. Read and share these quotes with your buddies to remind and inspire them.
