When you hate, the only person that suffers is you because most of the people you hate don't know it and the rest don't care.
The Negro has been here in America since 1619, a total of 344 years. He is not going anywhere else; this country is his home. He wants to do his part to help make his city, state, and nation a better place for everyone, regardless of color and race.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the belonging and commitment of African Americans to the United States and their desire for equality and betterment of society.
Medgar Evers articulates the long-standing presence of African Americans in the United States and highlights the idea that they are an integral part of the nation. He asserts that despite historical oppression, Black Americans seek to contribute positively to their communities and the country as a whole, advocating for unity and equality among all races. This statement calls for recognition of their rights and their role in the collective upliftment of society.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a speech addressing racial equality and justice.
More from Medgar Evers
All quotes βAs long as God gives me strength to work and try to make things real for my children, I'm going to work for it - even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice.
First it was the whites, and then their Negro message bearers. And the word was always the same: 'Tell your sons to take their names off the books. Don't show up at the courthouse voting day.'
It may sound funny, but I love the South. I don't choose to live anywhere else. There's land here, where a man can raise cattle, and I'm going to do it some day.
The gifts of God should be enjoyed by all citizens in Mississippi.
The six of us gathered at my house, and we walked to the polls. I'll never forget it. Not a Negro was on the streets, and when we got to the courthouse, the clerk said he wanted to talk with us. When we got into his office, some 15 or 20 armed white men surged in behind us - men I had grown up with, had played with.
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