Whitney Young, Jr.
(1921-1971)

African-American Civil Rights Leader
1969 Presidential Medal of Freedom

birthdate: July 31
birthplace:
Lincoln Ridge, Kentucky

QUOTES

"Every man is our brother, and every man’s burden is our own. Where poverty exists, all are poorer. Where hate flourishes, all are corrupted. Where injustice reins, all are unequal."

The truth is that there is nothing noble in being superior to somebody else. The only real nobility is in being superior to your former self.

No race has a monopoly on vice or virtue, and the worth of an individual is not related to the color of his skin.

"Black Power simply means: Look at me, I'm here. I have dignity. I have pride. I have roots. I insist, I demand that I participate in those decisions that affect my life and the lives of my children. It means that I am somebody."

"Liberalism seems to be related to the distance people are from the problem."

"I'd rather be prepared for an opportunity that never comes than have an opportunity come and I am not prepared."

The danger is that people may mistake what is basically a change in vocabulary for a change in behavior, practices, and attitudes. While practically all Americans have learned to talk inoffensively, not enough have learned to think differently, nor act positively.

Black is beautiful when it is a slum kid studying to enter college, when it is a man learning new skills for a new job, or a slum mother battling to give her kids a chance for a better life. But white is beautiful, too, when it helps change society to make our system work for black people also. White is ugly when it oppresses blacks--and so is black ugly when black people exploit other blacks. No race has a monopoly on vice or virtue, and the worth of an individual is not related to the color of his skin.

The hardest work in the world is being out of work.

Support the strong, give courage to the timed, remind the indifferent, warn the opposed.

It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.

 

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