"I also know that while I am black I am a human being, and therefore I have the right to go into any public place. White people didn't know that.Every time I tried to go into a place they stopped me"
- Stokely Carmichael
About this Quote
This quote by Stokely Carmichael speaks with the systemic bigotry and injustice that African Americans faced in the United States throughout the mid-20th century. Carmichael is emphasizing the fact that, despite the color of his skin, he is still a human being and should have the same rights and access to public places as any other person. He is explaining the ignorance of white people who did not recognize this basic right and rather sought to deny him access to locations based solely on his race. This quote acts as a pointer of the struggles that African Americans faced in the past and the importance of continuing to defend racial equality today. It is a powerful reminder that everyone ought to be treated equally, no matter their race, which everybody ought to have the same rights and access to public places.