Speaker 1

 “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.”—Dr. Mae Jemison

 “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.”—Martin Luther King, Jr.

 “The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.”—W.E.B. Du Bois

Speaker 2

 “In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.”—Thurgood Marshall

 “Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.”—Coretta Scott King

 “Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us.”—Susan L. Taylor

Speaker 3

“Defining myself, as opposed to being defined by others, is one of the most difficult challenges I face.”—Carol Moseley-Braun

“One day our descendants will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human beings.”—Franklin Thomas

“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.”—Desmond Tutu

Speaker 4

 “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.”—Langston Hughes

 “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”—Frederick Douglass

 “The time is always right to do what is right.”—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Speaker 5

“If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow.” —Beyonce Knowles

“Freedom is never given; it is won.”—A. Philip Randolph

 “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

Speaker 6

 “We all have dreams. In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort.”—Jesse Owens

 “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear.” —Rosa Parks

 “Just don’t give up what you’re trying to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.” —Ella Fitzgerald

Speaker 1

 “Wherever there is a human being, I see God-given rights inherent in that being, whatever may be the sex or complexion.” —William Lloyd Garrison

 “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” —Alice Walker

“You’ve got to learn to leave the table when love’s no longer being served.” —Nina Simone

Speaker 2

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” —Nelson Mandela

“The need for change bulldozed a road down the center of my mind.” —Maya Angelou

“I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” —Michael Jordan

Speaker 3

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” —Barack Obama

“Hold on to your dreams of a better life and stay committed to striving to realize it.” —Earl G. Graves, Sr.

”I swear to the Lord I still can’t see why democracy means everybody but me.” —Langston Hughes

Speaker 4

“I knew then and I know now, when it comes to justice, there is no easy way to get it.” —Claudette Colvin

 “Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave.  I rise. I rise. I rise.” —Maya Angelou

 “Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another’s uniqueness.” —Ola Joseph

Speaker 5

 “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. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don’t invest any energy in them, because I know who I am.” —Michelle Obama

“You’re not to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it.” —Malcolm X

“The soul that is within me no man can degrade.” —Frederick Douglass

Speaker 6

“I am America.  I am the part you won’t recognize.  But get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me.” —Muhammad Ali

“Have a vision of excellence, a dream of success, and work like hell.” —Dr. Samuel DuBois Cook

“Racism is man’s gravest threat to man – the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason.” —Abraham Joshua Heschel

Speaker 1

 “If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life.” —Marcus Garvey

 “There comes a time when people get tired of being plunged into the abyss of exploitation and nagging injustice.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger.” —Serena Williams

Speaker 2

“Every time you state what you want or believe, you’re the first to hear it. It’s a message to both you and others about what you think is possible. Don’t put a ceiling on yourself.” —Oprah Winfrey

“When we’re talking about diversity, it’s not a box to check. It is a reality that should be deeply felt and held and valued by all of us.” —Ava DuVernay

 “As black women, we’re always given these seemingly devastating experiences — experiences that could absolutely break us. But what the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls the butterfly.” —Viola Davis

Speaker 3

 “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” —Maya Angelou

 “We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right.” —Aretha Franklin

 “Don’t agonize, organize.” —Florynce Kennedy

Speaker 4

 “Whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you’ll find that when you’re free . . . your true self comes out.” —Tina Turner

 “If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, you must be the one to write it.” —Toni Morrison

 “The impatient idealist says: ‘Give me a place to stand and I shall move the earth.’ But such a place does not exist. We all have to stand on the earth itself and go with her at her pace.” —Chinua Achebe

Speaker 5

“If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win.” —Carl Lewis

“Stretch your mind and fly.” —Whitney M. Young Jr

 “Don’t let anything stop you. There will be times when you’ll be disappointed, but you can’t stop.” —Sadie T. M. Alexander

Speaker 6

“Life has two rules: number 1, never quit! Number 2, always remember rule number one.” —Duke Ellington

“Be as you are and hope that it’s right.” —Dizzy Gillespie

 “A man without knowledge of himself and his heritage is like a tree without roots.” —Dick Gregory

Speaker 7

“Dreams are lovely but they are just dreams. Fleeting, ephemeral, pretty. But dreams do not come true just because you dream them. It’s hard work that makes things happen. It’s hard work that creates change.” —Shonda Rhimes

 “Life is not a spectator sport. If you’re going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion, you’re wasting your life.” —Jackie Robinson

 “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” —Shirley Chisholm