A. Philip Randolph was a prominent civil rights leader and social activist, known for his tireless efforts in fighting for equality and justice for African Americans during the turbulent times of the 20th century. His powerful words continue to inspire and motivate people around the world to this day. Here are some of his most impactful quotes:
“Freedom is never given; it is won.”
Randolph believed that freedom is not something that can be handed over to oppressed individuals. Instead, it must be fought for and earned through relentless determination and unwavering resolve.
“Justice is never given; it is exacted and the struggle must be continuous for freedom is never a final fact, but a continuing evolving process.”
This quote reflects Randolph’s belief that justice is not a passive outcome, but something that must be demanded and fought for. He understood that the struggle for freedom and equality is an ongoing process that requires perpetual dedication and effort.
“Salvation for a race, nation, or class must come from within.”
Randolph emphasized the importance of self-empowerment and internal change in the fight for equality. He urged individuals to take responsibility for their own destiny, and to strive for improvement from within, rather than relying solely on external factors.
“The essence of trade unionism is social uplift. The labor movement has been the haven for the dispossessed, the despised, the neglected, the downtrodden, the poor.”
As a labor leader, Randolph recognized the significance of unionization in empowering marginalized individuals and advocating for their rights. He saw trade unions as a platform for social uplift and a means of giving a voice to those who had been silenced and marginalized by society.
These quotes are just a glimpse into the profound wisdom and unwavering determination of A. Philip Randolph. His words serve as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for freedom, justice, and equality, and inspire us to continue the fight in our own lives and communities.
Inspirational Quotes by A. Philip Randolph
|
“Freedom is never given; it is won.” |
|
“Justice is never given; it is exacted and the struggle must be continuous for freedom is never a final fact, but a continuing evolving process to higher and higher levels of human, social, economic, political and religious relationship.” |
|
“People may dismiss our demands as impossible dreams. But in their dismissals, they forget the impossible dreams of the past that have become the everyday realities of today. They forget that in America, every struggle to overcome injustice and inequality has been called impossible by those who benefit from the status quo.” |
|
“A community is democratic only when the humblest and weakest person can enjoy the highest civil, economic, and social rights that the biggest and most powerful possess.” |
|
“Salvation for a race, nation or class must come from within.” |
Famous Quotes on Equality by A. Philip Randolph
“The essence of equality is not that people be treated alike; it is that they should be treated differently according to their needs.”
“Equality means giving everyone the same opportunities, not demanding that they all achieve the same results.”
“A society can only be truly equal when everyone has the same access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.”
“It is not enough to proclaim equality; we must actively work to dismantle the systems of oppression that perpetuate inequality.”
“The fight for equality is not just about rights and privileges; it is about creating a more just and equitable society for all.”
“True equality means recognizing and valuing the unique contributions and experiences of every individual.”
“We cannot achieve true equality until we address the systemic racism and discrimination that still exists in our society.”
“Equality is not a zero-sum game; it is not about taking from some to give to others. It is about creating a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
A. Philip Randolph’s Quotes on Civil Rights
“Freedom is never given; it is won.”
“Justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both.”
“Freedom and justice are not privileges to be granted, but rights to be fought for.”
“A community is democratic only when the humblest and weakest person can enjoy the highest civil, economic, and social rights that the biggest and most powerful possess.”
“Our aim is to ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to fulfill their dreams, regardless of race, gender, or background.”
“The struggle for civil rights is a long and difficult journey, but one that we must continue to fight for until equality is achieved for all.”
“It is our duty to speak out against injustice and fight for the rights of those who are marginalized and oppressed.”
“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.”
A. Philip Randolph’s Quotes on Labor Activism
“The essence of trade unionism is social uplift. The labor movement has been the haven for the dispossessed, the despised, the neglected, the downtrodden, the poor.”
“Our aim is not to do away with corporations; on the contrary, these big aggregations are an inevitable development of modern industrialism, and the effort to destroy them would be futile unless accomplished through the creation of sufficient new opportunities for the establishment of alternative economic organizations.”
“Justice is never given; it is exacted and the struggle must be continuous, for freedom is never a final fact, but a continuing evolving process to higher and higher levels of human, social, economic, political, and religious relationships.”
“Nothing counts but pressure, pressure, more pressure, and still more pressure through broad organized aggressive mass action.”
Powerful Quotes on Social Justice by A. Philip Randolph
“Freedom is never given; it is won.”
“Justice is never given; it is demanded.”
“A community is democratic only when the humblest and weakest person can enjoy the highest civil, economic, and social rights that the biggest and most powerful possess.”
“We are not makers of history. We are made by history.”
“A community is democratic only when everyone is equal in its benefit.”
“Justice means equality for all, regardless of race, gender, or social status.”
“The essence of social justice is to give a voice to the voiceless and power to the powerless.”
Notable Quotes by A. Philip Randolph on Leadership
|
“A community is democratic only when the humblest and weakest person can enjoy the highest civil, economic, and social rights that the biggest and most powerful possess.” |
|
“Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.” |
|
“The essence of leadership is the ability to inspire others to work towards a common goal.” |
|
“True leaders are not those who strive to be first, but those who are first to strive and who give their all for the success of the team.” |
|
“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” |
A. Philip Randolph’s Quotes on Racial Justice
Racial justice was a core principle for A. Philip Randolph, a prominent civil rights leader. Throughout his life, he spoke passionately about the need for equality and fought tirelessly for the rights of African Americans. Here are some inspiring quotes that reflect his views on racial justice:
“Justice is never given; it is exacted and the struggle must be continuous for freedom is never a final fact, but a continuing evolving process to higher and higher levels of human, social, economic, political and religious relationships.”
“So long as social relations are based not on justice, but on force; so long as the strong can get more, the weak will have to suffer; so long as there are people in the world who have more than they need, while others have less than they need, while others have not enough, while others are dying of starvation, hunger, lack of medical attention and know neither justice nor love, freedom and peace are a dream, unrealizable except in the imagination.”
“Freedom is never given; it is won. Justice is never given; it is exacted. Freedom and justice must be struggled for by the oppressed of all lands and races, and the struggle must be continuous, for freedom is never a final fact, but a continuing evolving process to higher and higher levels of human, social, economic, political and religious relationships.”
“Pioneering don’t pay. It’s the guy who comes along afterward who gets all the glory.”
“Salvation for a race, nation or class must come from within. Freedom is never granted; it is won. Justice is never given; it is exacted.”
“The essence of black power is the reinscription of the Affirmation of Existence and the Automatic Deletion of the Suppression of Life, which subjects African oppression to the censure of universal human values.”
“Power in defense of freedom is greater than power on behalf of tyranny and oppression.”
As these quotes show, A. Philip Randolph believed that racial justice was not a gift to be bestowed, but a right to be fought for. His words continue to inspire those working towards a more just and equal society.
Impactful Quotes by A. Philip Randolph on Change
1. “Justice is never given; it is exacted and the struggle must be continuous for freedom is never a final fact, but a continuing evolving process to higher and higher levels of human, social, economic, political and religious relationship.”
2. “A community is democratic only when the humblest and weakest person can enjoy the highest civil, economic, and social rights that the biggest and most powerful possess.”
3. “Freedom is never granted; it is won. Justice is never given; it is exacted.”
4. “The essence of trade unionism is social uplift. The labor movement has been the haven for the dispossessed, the despised, the neglected, the downtrodden, the poor.”
5. “Negroes are in dire need of unionism… Negroes should be sponsored liberally by the American Federation of Labor.”
6. “We are not interested in the outcome of this election only, but in the increased power for bargaining which comes as a result of the election; but not only that, also the increased power for civil rights and for civil liberties.”
7. “Freedom is not a bargaining chip. It is a right.”
8. “Without education, there is no hope for a people, and without hope, they are lost.”
9. “Nobody expects to get what isn’t wanted. Get your demands in line with justice and have them recognized.”
10. “Nothing counts but pressure, pressure, more pressure, and still more pressure through broad organized aggressive mass action.”