A curated register of quotes from under-represented voices.

Quotes

147 Attributed
“ What I really aspire to do in the poem is to be able to use my words to envision a way in which our country can still come together and can still heal. ”

Amanda Gorman, 2021


LiteratureWomenBlackShe / Her · Pronounced: uh-MAN-duh GOR-mun
She / Her · Pronounced: uh-MAN-duh GOR-mun
Source: New York Times interview · original link to be verified
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Something Wrong? 0 0

Filter 277 quotes
065 Attributed
“ Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to the error that counts. ”

Nikki Giovanni


LiteratureWomenBlackShe / Her · Pronounced: NIK-ee jee-oh-VAH-nee
She / Her · Pronounced: NIK-ee jee-oh-VAH-nee
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Something Wrong? 0 0
103 Attributed
“ Racist is an adjective, not a noun. ”

Ibram X. Kendi, 2019


LiteratureBlackHe / Him · Pronounced: ih-BRAHM KEN-dee
He / Him · Pronounced: ih-BRAHM KEN-dee
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
All Quotes by Ibram
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101 Attributed
“ The very heartbeat of racism is denial. ”

Ibram X. Kendi, 2020


LiteratureBlackHe / Him · Pronounced: ih-BRAHM KEN-dee
He / Him · Pronounced: ih-BRAHM KEN-dee
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
All Quotes by Ibram
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006 Confirmed
“ Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another. ”

Toni Morrison, 1987


LiteratureWomenBlackShe / Her · Pronounced: TOH-nee MOR-ih-sun
She / Her · Pronounced: TOH-nee MOR-ih-sun
Source: Beloved
All Quotes by Toni
Something Wrong? 0 0
102 Attributed
“ I think to be racist is to support policies that are leading to inequality or injustice. ”

Ibram X. Kendi, 2019


LiteratureBlackHe / Him · Pronounced: ih-BRAHM KEN-dee
He / Him · Pronounced: ih-BRAHM KEN-dee
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
All Quotes by Ibram
Something Wrong? 0 0
007 Confirmed
“ Culture does not make people. People make culture. ”

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, 2014


LiteratureWomenBlackShe / Her · Pronounced: chee-mah-MAHN-dah en-GOH-zee ah-DEE-chee
She / Her · Pronounced: chee-mah-MAHN-dah en-GOH-zee ah-DEE-chee
All Quotes by Chimamanda
Something Wrong? 0 0
067 Attributed
“ The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any. ”

Alice Walker


LiteratureWomenBlackShe / Her · Pronounced: AL-iss WAWK-er
She / Her · Pronounced: AL-iss WAWK-er
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Something Wrong? 0 0
121 Confirmed
“ A feminist is a person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes. ”

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, 2012


LiteratureWomenBlackShe / Her · Pronounced: chee-mah-MAHN-dah en-GOH-zee ah-DEE-chee
She / Her · Pronounced: chee-mah-MAHN-dah en-GOH-zee ah-DEE-chee
All Quotes by Chimamanda
Something Wrong? 0 0
001 Confirmed
“ Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare. ”

Audre Lorde, 1988


LiteratureWomenLGBTQ+BlackShe / Her · Pronounced: AW-dree LORD
She / Her · Pronounced: AW-dree LORD
All Quotes by Audre
Something Wrong? 3 9
066 Confirmed
“ In order to rise from its own ashes, a phoenix first must burn. ”

Octavia Butler, 1998


LiteratureWomenBlackShe / Her · Pronounced: ok-TAY-vee-uh BUT-ler
She / Her · Pronounced: ok-TAY-vee-uh BUT-ler
Something Wrong? 0 0
064 Confirmed
“ There is no story that is not true. ”

Chinua Achebe, 1958


LiteratureBlackGlobal SouthHe / Him · Pronounced: CHIN-wah ah-CHAY-bay
He / Him · Pronounced: CHIN-wah ah-CHAY-bay
Something Wrong? 0 0
080 Confirmed
“ I did not lose myself all at once. I rubbed out my face over the years. ”

Amy Tan, 1989


LiteratureWomenAsianShe / Her · Pronounced: AY-mee TAHN
She / Her · Pronounced: AY-mee TAHN
Something Wrong? 0 0
162 Attributed
“ You don't have to change the whole world, but by changing your thinking, you can change your actions, and then by changing your actions, you can change your community. ”

Marley Dias


LiteratureWomenBlackShe / Her · Pronounced: MAR-lee DEE-us
She / Her · Pronounced: MAR-lee DEE-us
Source: Interview on #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign · original link to be verified
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Something Wrong? 0 0
079 Attributed
“ In a time of destruction, create something. ”

Maxine Hong Kingston


LiteratureWomenAsianShe / Her · Pronounced: mak-SEEN HONG KING-stun
She / Her · Pronounced: mak-SEEN HONG KING-stun
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Something Wrong? 1 0
075 Attributed
“ Where there is a tree to plant, plant it yourself. ”

Gabriela Mistral


LiteratureWomenLatinxGlobal SouthShe / Her · Pronounced: gah-bree-EL-ah mees-TRAHL
She / Her · Pronounced: gah-bree-EL-ah mees-TRAHL
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
Something Wrong? 0 0