Amiri Baraka Quotes

I think all in all, one thing a lot of plays seem to be saying is that we need to, as black Americans, to make a connection with our past in order to determine the kind of future we're going to have. In other words, we simply need to know who we are in relation to our historical presence in America.

Would America have been America without her Negro people?

I read a lot of W.E.B. Du Bois, who wrote 'The Souls of Black Folk.'

From blood banking to the modern subway, from jazz to social justice, the contributions of African Americans have shaped and molded and influenced our national culture and our national character.

I am proud of my black roots and of the black blood that runs in my veins.

I do consider myself part of black history.

African Americans are one of the oldest ethnic groups in this country. We been here since the beginning. Before the beginning.

America is deeply rooted in Negro culture: its colloquialisms; its humor; its music.

Typically, there's this perspective among writers - and black writers: there's this idea that there is one person - and maybe beyond writers - among blacks, there is always one person who everyone should go to learn about all things black.

Growing up as a product of the black civil-rights movement, I had a lot of different models for black weirdness, whether it's Richard Pryor or James Baldwin or Jimmy Walker.

When I was growing up, 'Ebony Magazine' was a must read in our household. In those pages I found our news, our stories, and my pride.

Malcolm X is a person who has inspired - he has been the muse of several generations of black cultural workers, artists, poets, playwrights.

As a child, I experienced black culture as many people did in America: on the TV, radio, and stages.

Black culture has been a huge influence in my life.

There's no question that I'm African-American. OK? I'm a black man. We're not going to escape that.

Learn to love being black.

Being black, I'm involved in the reparations movement. It's focused toward the African-American audience. We could begin to heal.

We must canonize our own saints, create our own martyrs … black men and women who have made their distinct contributions to our racial history.

Afro-American

Lift Every Voice and Sing

There is a distinctive African American culture that has roots in Africa and evolved on American soil.

I'm a black man from the South. I like my food!

I wanted to explore black culture, and I wanted that culture to be a revelation.

Maya Angelou was the voice of three generations. Her poetry spanned our journey, chronicled our hearts and documented our struggles as we moved from the orations of Martin Luther King to the presidency of Barack Obama.

As far as I'm concerned, the voices of Washington, black Washington, it's poetry, man. There's beauty in it.