“Racial pride and self-dignity were emphasized in my family and community.”

When the history of this country is written, when a final accounting is done, it is this small, quiet woman whose name will be remembered long after the names of senators and presidents have been forgotten.

I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people.

I was ready to die but give my consent never. Never, never.

Our freedom is threatened every time one of our young people is killed by another child, every time a person gets stopped and beaten by the police because of the color of their skin.

Since I have always been a strong believer in God, I knew that He was with me, and only He could get me through that next step.

Differences of race, nationality or religion should not be used to deny any human being citizenship rights or privileges.

I do the very best I can to look upon life with optimism and hope and looking forward to a better day.

The only way for prejudiced people to change is for them to decide for themselves that all human beings should be treated fairly.

No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.

Everyone living together in peace and harmony and love – that’s the goal that we seek, and I think that the more people there are who reach that state of mind, the better we will all be.

An opportunity was being given to me to do what I had asked of others.

The bus was among the first ways I realized there was a black world and a white world.

I believe there is only one race – the human race.

Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome.

There were times when it would have been easy to fall apart or to go in the opposite direction, but somehow I felt that if I took on more step, someone would come along to join me.

The time had just come when I had been pushed as far as I could stand to be pushed.