I want to die a slave to principles, not to men.

A nation may lose its liberties and be a century in finding it out. Where is the American liberty? ... In its far-reaching and broad sweep, slavery has stricken down the freedom of us all.

Slavery is the offspring of darkness.

Slavery has as many shapes among us as there are things we need.

Death is a slave's freedom.

We do not give [slaves] what is more important than food or clothing or kindness. We do not give them freedom.

I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core, But a plea ...

The moment the slave resolves that he will no longer be a slave, his fetters fall. He frees himself and shows the way to others. Freedom and slavery are mental states.

Am I African? What would my feelings be when I looked into the black face of the African, feeling that maybe his great-great-great-grandfather had sold my great-great-great-grandfather into slavery?

We fight for men and women whose poetry is not yet written.