Inspiration black history quotes will challenge the way you think, change the way you live and transform your whole life.
Famous Black History Quotes
The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression. W.E.B. Du Bois
History has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own. Michelle Obama
In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute. Thurgood Marshall, first African American U.S. Supreme Court member
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. Nelson Mandela
Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us. Susan L. Taylor, journalist
You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom. Malcolm X
Defining myself, as opposed to being defined by others, is one of the most difficult challenges I face. Carol Moseley Braun, politician and lawyer
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
One day our descendants will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human beings. Franklin Thomas, activist, philanthropist, and former president of the Ford Foundation
I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear. Rosa Parks
My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together. Desmond Tutu
The time is always right to do what is right. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly. Langston Hughes
In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.Thurgood Marshall
If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Frederick Douglass
Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated. Coretta Scott King
The time is always right to do what is right. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
If you wake up deciding what you want to give versus what you’re going to get, you become a more successful person. In other words, if you want to make money, you have to help someone else make money. Russell Simmons
Have a vision. Be demanding. Colin Powell
Defining myself, as opposed to being defined by others, is one of the most difficult challenges I face. Carol Moseley Braun
Freedom is never given; it is won. A. Philip Randolph, civil rights activist
A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives. Jackie Robinson
Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed. Booker T. Washington
My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together. Desmond Tutu
We all have dreams. In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self discipline and effort. Jesse Owens, world record setting Olympic athlete
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Martin Luther King Jr.
I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear. Rosa Parks
It isn’t where you come from; it’s where you’re going that counts. Ella Fitzgerald
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
Character is power. Booker T. Washington
If we accept and acquiesce in the face of discrimination, we accept the responsibility ourselves and allow those responsible to salve their conscience by believing that they have our acceptance and concurrence. We should, therefore, protest openly everything that smacks of discrimination or slander. Mary McLeod Bethune
Hold on to your dreams of a better life and stay committed to striving to realize it. Earl G. Graves, Sr.
Wherever there is a human being, I see God given rights inherent in that being, whatever may be the sex or complexion. William Lloyd Garrison
You can only become accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.Maya Angelou
We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not 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.
Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly. Langston Hughes
He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life. Muhammad Ali
There are times in life when, instead of complaining, you do something about your complaints. Rita Dove
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
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
The need for change bulldozed a road down the center of my mind. Maya Angelou
Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations. Dr. Mae Jemison
Truth is powerful and it prevails. Sojourner Truth
I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting almost anywhere you want to go, if you really want to go. Langston Hughes
I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying. Michael Jordan
Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us. Susan L. Taylor
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
Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed. Booker T. Washington
Hold on to your dreams of a better life and stay committed to striving to realize it. Earl G. Graves, Sr.
Every time you state what you want or believe, you’re the first to hear it. It’s a message to both you and others about what you think is possible. Don’t put a ceiling on yourself. Oprah Winfrey
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
Education is transformational. It changes lives. That is why people work so hard to become educated and why education has always been the key to the American Dream, the force that erases arbitrary divisions of race and class and culture and unlocks every person’s God given potential. Condoleezza Rice
I don’t want a Black History Month. Black history is American history. Morgan Freeman
Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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 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
I swear to the Lord I still can’t see why democracy means everybody but me. Langston Hughes
Have a vision of excellence, a dream of success, and work like hell. Dr. Samuel DuBois Cook
Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Those who say it can’t be done are usually interrupted by others doing it. James Baldwin
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
To me, we are the most beautiful creatures in the whole world. Black people. And I mean that in every sense. Nina Simone
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
We need to internalize this idea of excellence. Not many folks spend a lot of time trying to be excellent. Barack Obama
I knew then and I know now, when it comes to justice, there is no easy way to get it. Claudette Colvin
The things that make us different, those are our super powers. Lena Waithe
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 Pere
If you can be the best, then why not try to be the best? Garrett Morgan
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
Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations. Dr. Mae Jemison
Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another’s uniqueness. Ola Joseph
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
Character is power. Booker T. Washington
I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger. Serena William
If you judge people, you have no time to love them. Mother Teresa
The impatient idealist says: ‘Give me a place to stand and I shall move the earth.’ But such a place does not exist. We all have to stand on the earth itself and go with her at her pace. Chinua Achebe
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
The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. Alice Walker
The soul that is within me no man can degrade. Frederick Douglass
