Its hard work that creates change. Thats my cultural, historical background, my genetic makeup, but its not all of who I am, nor is it the basis from which I answer every question. Denzel Washington, I also believe that you are what you have to defend, and if youre a Black man, thats always going to be the bar against which you are judged, whether you want to align yourself with those themes or not. Its a dare. Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States to honor and mourn the U.S. military personnel who have died. In the United States, February is designated as Black History Month. Being Black in America is an honor and a privilege. As long as you feel like a victim, you are one. Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. Dont wait for good things to happen to you. Then when you know better, do better. "Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights Activist. Ours is not the struggle of one day, one week, or one year. Are you looking for the most inspiring Black History Month quotes? Memorial Day became a national holiday two decades later, in 1889, and it took a century before it was moved in 1968 to the last Monday of May, where it remains today. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause. Were bosses, and thats what I consider feminism: female hustlers. Hold on to your dreams of a better life and stay committed to striving to realize it. The innovation. By Tara Reed Designs. Anti-racism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including in yourself. May 25 . Raise a ruckus and make a change. I rise. Here are some powerful Black History Month quotes that will move you: I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. On Memorial Day, we remember those who have given their lives in service of their country. Memorial Day Clipart Png Images 75. The struggles within yourselfthe invisible, inevitable battles inside all of usthats where its at. Jesse Owens, Olympic champion. 58. It takes a lot of courage, strength, and audacity to serve the country day in and day out without caring about your own life. Happy Memorial Day to past, present and fallen soldiers. This February, celebrate Black History Month at work with a diverse and inclusive mind that believes in cultivating a workplace that knows no discrimination. When I was born, I was colored. The soul that is within me no man can degrade. In the approximately 10 days leading up to the event, roughly two dozen African American Charlestonians reorganized the graves into rows and built a 10-foot-tall white fence around them. Apart from being a passionate content creator for HR services and employee engagement, Gautam is a theatre enthusiast, an avid reader and an aspiring poet. Im not worried about that. It merely astonishes me. 2. Participants sang patriotic songs like America and Well Rally around the Flag and The Star-Spangled Banner. In the afternoon, three white and black Union regiments marched around the graves and staged a drill. Here are 160 patriotic Memorial Day quotes, messages and sayings to help you share the day with your loved ones.These Memorial Day quotes, messages and sayings are perfect for honoring all veterans. I was just tired of giving up.". 25 Memorial Day Quotes from famous thinkers throughout the ages. . Never give up, never surrender, and rise up against all odds.". The first celebration took place at Kent State in 1970. Have a vision. Lynnette Nicholas is a regular contributor to the Culture section on RD.com. Im not quite sure what freedom is, but I know damn well what it aint. The opportunities that you have, youre privileged in ways that you might not even realize because you havent been deprived of certain things. The following quotes belong to people who have and continue to inspire and encourage millions around the world. I have learned over the years that when ones mind is made up, this diminishes fear. I felt if I could take one lyncher with me, this would even up the score a little bit. The struggles within yourselfthe invisible, inevitable battles inside all of usthats where its at. Only a great character can make a great man, not the color of his skin, not his religion nor his sexual orientation. Still, in order to properly pause, reflect, and pay your respects to the . She graduated with a degree in English Literature from the University of Florida, and when she's not writing or traveling, you can find her at an art gallery, theater performance or film screening discussing the impact of media on children and teens. We had a Black Wall Street because we wasnt allowed on [the other] Wall Street. Bring your best to the moment. But dreams do not come true just because you dream them. Its beyond me. I have a two-year-old son. Please see below how each format is supposed to be used: The SVG forma t is mostly used for cutting machines software like . Motivational Black history quotes from Black leaders. From creating witty and unique inventions that impact the day-to-day lives of Americans to influencing sports and fashion, Black people have made a mark on American history that can never be erased. Watch us walk, watch us move, watch us overcome, listen to our voices, the sway. Its not meant to suggest that other lives dont matter. During the early 20th century the occassion has been extended to recognize all Americans who have sacrificed their life during military conflict. I dont need to have a discussion with you about how I feel as a Black woman, because I dont feel disempowered as a Black woman. Shonda Rhimes, screenwriter, producer and author, 81. 1. There comes a time when people get tired of being plunged into the abyss of exploitation and nagging injustice. $4.00. Embrace what makes you unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable. My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together. Desmond Tutu, South African theologian and human rights activist, 70. I dont know what that word means. Next, check out these incredible books by Black authors and the Black-owned bookstores to buy them from. . Unless we start to fight and defeat the enemies in our own country, poverty and racism, and make our talk of equality and opportunity ring true, we are exposed in the eyes of the world as hypocrites when we talk about making people free. Shirley Chisholm, first Black woman to be elected to Congress (in 1968) and to run for president (in 1972), 3. But get used to me. While Memorial Day tends to herald the beginning of the summer season with barbecues, beaches, and the first sunburn of the season, the "holiday" is truly a day for mourning . "If you fall behind, run faster. However, these ladies believed in themselves and made history along the way. Be demanding. Colin Powell, first Black U.S. Secretary of State, 46. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Martin Luther King Jr., activist, preacher and the 1964 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, who was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement until his assassination in 1968, 25. I do fight music, unified in Christ music. Lecrae, Part of what my music represents is to stand up and be the voice of those who feel like they are not heard and want to be treated with respect regardless of race, color, orientationandroid, cyborg, whatever. Janelle Monae, We all require and want respect, man or woman, Black or White. "A great soul serves everyone all the time. I am the part you wont recognize. When you put love out in the world it travels, and it can touch people and reach people in ways that we never even expected. 80 Black History Month Quotes To Inspire You At Work, 7 Ways To Celebrate Black History Month At Work, 6 Interesting Ways To Celebrate National Good Samaritan Day At Work, Remembrance, Reflection, And Celebration: How To Celebrate Juneteenth At Work In 2023, How to Build Employee Connection and 12 Ways to Build One. 19 Quotes From Black Activists That Are Relevant All Day, Every Day. Race is a constant factor in American life. "There are no goodbyes for us. I rise. 41. I am America. Muhammad Ali glows. Memorial Angel Wings SVG, T shirt Design, Heart with Wings. For me, success is inner peace. It is still not easy to prove oneself as a woman, but in the past, most black women couldnt even dare to dream about success. Do you want to learn about some of the most well-known African Americans who fought for equal human rights? Ronald Reagan's Remarks on Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetary, 1982. 5. "And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free. $5.00. 9. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate and religious prejudice. Inspired to celebrate Black heritage, history and accomplishments, Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, which later birthed a Negro History Week that grew to become Black History Month. - President Ronald Reagan, 1983, in a radio address to the nation. For to be free is not merely to cast off ones chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. There is nothing more inspiring than hoping for a better life and striving for success regardless of circumstances. Life is not a spectator sport. We have to document our history. The battles that count arent the ones for gold medals. That means speaking with integrity and truth. "The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.". Afro-American students can have the same opportunities and dream for a brighter future, just like everyone else. The New Black dreams and realizes that its not a pigmentation; its a mentality. We must be anti-racist. Vantage Circle. Be demanding.". I think thats from being bright all the time, and trying to be brighter. How can any deny themselves the pleasure of my company? The Oscar-winning actor thinks that racism can end when we stop talking about it as long as were pointing out something, we are still stigmatizing, even if our intentions are good. The holiday was Memorial Day, an annual . "May we never forget that freedom isn't free.". Life is only about the I-tried-to-do. Here are our top Black History Month quotes from famous figures and speeches that you should know: 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. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart.". In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist. I realized that beauty was not a thing that I could acquire or consume, it was something I just had to be. I swear to the Lord I still cant see why democracy means everybody but me. The work of honoring the dead began right away all over the country, and several American towns claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. An April 1865 photo of the graves of Union soldiers buried at the race course-turned-Confederate-prison where historians believe the earliest Memorial . I didnt have to become perfect because Ive learned throughout my journey that perfection is the enemy of greatness. Explore our collection of motivational and famous quotes by authors you know and love. Never give up, never surrender and rise up against all odds. Jesse Jackson, American political activist, politician and Baptist preacher, 10. 2. From an Irish headstone". Rather we should thank God such men lived." - Gen. George S. Patton . 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, 19th-century politician, author and co-founder of Tuskegee Institute, a famous historically Black college, 13. Bettmann. Just dont give up what youre trying to do. 1. When a . Its our basic human right. Aretha Franklin, singer, songwriter and pianist, considered one of the greatest musicians of all time, 39. One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them. You can think of yourself as a colorless person, but nobody else is gonna. Don Cheadle, actor and filmmaker, 30. I write for young girls of color, for girls who dont even exist yet, so that there is something there for them when they arrive. "Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.". We are the change that we seek. Barack Obama, I am America. I knew I was Black. 1. Perhaps one of the most well-known gospel/R&B tunes for a funeral, His Eye Is On the Sparrow was recorded by numerous artists over the years. Its a message to both you and others about what you think is possible. Hatred generates fear, and fear, once given a foothold, binds, consumes, and imprisons. Here are 15 quotesvia Brainy Quote, Country Living and Good Housekeepingto celebrate Memorial Day. "I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. Download this ultimate guide to learn the secret to a You cant lead the people if you dont love the people. It might get in the way of the economics of slavery. You look at someone like Gandhi, and he glowed. "We don't know them all, but we owe them all.". Home of the free, because of the brave. Never be limited by other peoples limited imaginations. - Franklin D. Roosevelt. It might get in the way of the economics of slavery. I never really had to put much thought into my race, and neither did anybody else. A beautiful part of our heritage . Things like racism are institutionalized. Sometimes, I feel discriminated against, but it does not make me angry. If so, then you're in the right place. The one thing I feel is lacking in Hollywood today is an understanding of the beauty, the power, the sexuality, the uniqueness, the humor of being a regular Black woman. "That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet.". Lets take a look. All Rights Reserved. Our abundance has brought us neither peace of mind nor serenity of spirit. He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life. You are where you are today because you stand on somebodys shoulders. Richard Gardiner. But get used to me. And its either going to work for you, or its going to work against you. Starting at 9 a.m., about 3,000 black schoolchildren paraded around the race track holding roses and singing the Union song John Browns Body, and were followed by adults representing aid societies for freed black men and women. Find & Download Free Graphic Resources for Memorial Day. Raise a ruckus and make a change. You may not always be popular, but youll be part of something larger and bigger and greater than yourself. 28 Best Memorial Day Movies to Watch on Your Long Weekend. Whats the world for if you cant make it up the way you want it? I soon became a Negro. Your children could be taken from you and literally sold down the river. Kerry Washington, Take a stand for whats right. Im happy. The beauty of anti-racism is that you dont have to pretend to be free of racism to be anti-racist. We have some impulse within us that makes us want to explain ourselves to other human beings. Maya Angelou, 51. Sometimes, I am also identified as a civil rights leader or a human rights activist. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital I dont stand for the Black mans side. Good Housekeeping. But what the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls the butterfly. It is not some enchanted garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down and rest. Morgan Freeman stirred a lot of controversy back in 2005 when he called the Black History Month ridiculous. So, to take you on a journey of workplace equity, we have compiled some of the best Black History Month Quotes for you to honor the Black American employees at work. Dr. Martin Luther King is not a black hero. If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Frederick Douglass, American social reformer, abolitionist, statesman and a national leader in the abolitionist movement in the late 19th century, 64. I just am. Boost employee engagement with this FREE guide! And that mans feeble attempt to lay down the principles of decency. R&B singers Lauren Hill and Tanya Blount performed His Eye Is On the Sparrow for the movie Sister Act II. I felt that one had better die fighting against injustice than to die like a dog or rat in a trap. You never cede control of your own ability to be successful to something called racism. 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