Monday Motivation: Black History Edition - Quotes From African-American Leaders

I am always torn about how to celebrate Black History Month, because I celebrate Black History year-round and Black History is American History! However, with the introduction of my latest Monday Motivation series, I thought I’d add a Black History edition that may be refreshing and informative for some. Hope you enjoy the quotes from some of history’s great African-American leaders that you may or may not be familiar with!

“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.”
—Dr. Mae Jemison, first African-American female astronaut

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

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

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

“Won’t it be wonderful when black history and Native American history and Jewish history and all of U.S. history is taught from one book. Just U.S. history.” —Maya Angelou

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

“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

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

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” —Muhammad Ali

“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

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

“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

“It’s important for us to also understand that the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ simply refers to the notion that there’s a specific vulnerability for African Americans that needs to be addressed. It’s not meant to suggest that other lives don’t matter. It’s to suggest that other folks aren’t experiencing this particular vulnerability.” —Barack Obama

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

“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

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

“I had no idea that history was being made.  I was just tired of giving up.” —Rosa Parks

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

“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

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

“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

“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

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

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

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

“I am a feminist, and what that means to me is much the same as the meaning of the fact that I am Black; it means that I must undertake to love myself and to respect myself as though my very life depends upon self-love and self-respect.” —June Jordan

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

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

“I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.” —Madam C.J. Walker

“Make a difference about something other than yourselves.” —Toni Morrison

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.