Rafer Johnson Quotes

You have discovered so much kindness and good will to those you thought were oppressed, and had no helper, that I am sure you will not despise what I have wrote, if you judge it will be of any service to them.

I'm going to do whatever I have to do to help a New Yorker, whether it's a girl on the street or a tenant in a housing development.

We have an obligation to help people that cannot help themselves. The mentally retarded, the physically retarded, et cetera.

I am on the International Board of Best Buddies, and I am also working with Special Olympics, and with The Arc to help people with disabilities become more independent and more included in their communities.

I've worked with a lot of gay and lesbian organizations. I sit on the board of the Empire State Pride Agenda. I've also done a lot of work for Broadway Care/Equity Fights AIDS. I think it's important because, when we can be of service to others, it only enhances our lives. I've been helped a lot in my life.

Teach [our girls] that there is a race with special needs [Blacks] which they and only they can help; that the world needs and is already asking for their trained, efficient forces.

I hope that as a professional snowboarder, Olympian, and now, a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics, I will be able to change perceptions about people with intellectual disabilities.

It's a beautiful thing to be involved with the Special Olympics.

I have a great relationship with Special Olympics back in Baltimore and have had one for many years.

Once I got to the NBA I wanted to continue to work with the Special Olympics and those with special needs.

I've been dealing with the Special Olympics since I was young. On Sundays I used to go help monitor little soccer practices.

Whether I'm in a ball gown or a pair of jeans, it's not about me or what I'm wearing; it's about what I can be doing to support and empower others going forward.

Special Olympics is an organization I have done a lot of work with, first while growing up in Massachusetts and then as an NBA player in Philadelphia.

I've stayed focused on the job at hand representing the people of the 5th district... a voice for everyone rich or poor or male or female.

While I've had so many different jobs - I've worked in law, I've worked in government, I've run for office - there's a common theme. The theme for my entire life has been about giving back.

I don't want to be an ambassador for too many charities, because it's a far stronger message to be a person with a disfigurement going about their life doing everyday things.

People must respect our movement.

It's not called 'Queer Eye For the Straight Guy' now for a reason. We want to be able to help more and more people, and why wouldn't we help women, and why wouldn't we help a trans man? I want to help as many different groups as physically possible with this show.

When I was a little boy, there were a lot of children with physical problems in my hometown, and my parents used to work with them, and I learned a lot about that. Since I was a child, helping out, doing what I can, was something that fulfilled me.

I'm going to be an advocate to ensure that we are protecting everyone, and we're tearing down barriers and not building barriers.

Our greatest strength in our fight for justice is our people - the thousands of men and women who have dedicated their careers, often at great personal sacrifice, to working for justice in America.

I'm proud to stand beside you as a partner and support Special Olympics - an important program that promotes leadership and empowers students to be agents of change.

I'm aware of the other drag artists with makeup lines, and I celebrate them. The pie is big and there's room for everybody.

Maybe, whatever influence we have, other songwriters or women or whatever can feel like they can have a place too, I guess. Or that they don't have to do things the way that we've been taught we have to do them.

It feels good to be in a place now where I can give back to my community.