Progress for black Americans depends on good schools because education is the last great equalizer.

Violence is black children going to school for 12 years and receiving 6 years' worth of education.

During the decades after Brown v. Board of Education there was terrific progress. Tens of thousands of public schools were integrated racially. During that time the gap between black and white achievement narrowed.

There is nothing of any consequence in education in the economy in city planning in social policy that does not concern black people.

A black agenda is jobs jobs jobs quality education investment in infrastructure and strong democratic regulation of corporations. The black agenda at its best looks at America from the vantage point of the least of these and asks what's best for all.

Education is indoctrination if you're white - subjugation if you're black.

The Washington black community was able to succeed beyond his wildest dreams. I mean we had our own newspapers our own restaurants our own theaters our own small shops our own clubs our own Masonic lodges.

I don't understand people who dream in black and white. I just don't get it. My dreams have always been vivid color.

Seems like God don't see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams - but He did give us children to make them dreams seem worthwhile.

For four to six months at a time I would barely eat. I lived on a diet of Melba toast carrots and black coffee.