"We had no more courage than Harriet Tubman or Marcus Garvey had in their times. We just had a more vulnerable enemy"
- Stokely Carmichael
About this Quote
Stokely Carmichael's quote is a testament to the guts of Harriet Tubman and Marcus Garvey, two prominent figures in the defend civil rights. He is recommending that the civil rights movement of the 1960s was not any more bold than the struggles of Tubman and Garvey in their respective times. Instead, he recommends that the civil rights movement of the 1960s had the benefit of a more susceptible opponent. This implies that the civil liberties movement of the 1960s had the ability to make more development than Tubman and Garvey because the enemy was weaker and more susceptible to change. Carmichael's quote is a reminder of the guts and strength of Tubman and Garvey, and the importance of their contributions to the civil rights movement. It likewise works as a reminder of the power of collective action and the importance of defending what is right, no matter the odds.
"When the principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then the battle is your calling, and peace has become sin. You must at the price of dearest peace lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy with all the fire of your faith"