25 powerful quotes that speak volumes in the fight against racism

After the death of 46-year-old African American George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA on Monday, May 25, protests erupted across the United States and around the world in solidarity against racism and police brutality. As more people protest in peaceful demonstrations, the more society needs to change and strive towards peace and equality. Below are 25 quotes that ring true in the fight against racism now more than ever before.

“History has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own.”
–Michelle Obama, former first lady of the United States

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

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” –Martin Luther King, Jr., American minister and activist

“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, the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017

“You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” –Malcolm X, human rights activist and American Muslim minister

“We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers. Our abundance has brought us neither peace of mind nor serenity of spirit.” —Martin Luther King, Jr

“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, former President of South Africa, political leader, philanthropist

“No matter how big a nation is, it is no stronger than its weakest people, and as long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you might otherwise.” –Marian Anderson, singer

“The ultimate measure of a person is not where one stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where one stands in times of challenge and controversy.” – Martin Luther King, Jr