"I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me. All I ask is that you respect me as a human being."

“I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me. All I ask is that you respect me as a human being. I am not ashamed of my dark skin. You and every other white American should understand that we believe our color is an asset. Your dislike of my aggressiveness has no effect on me. I'm after something much more important than your favor or disfavor. You should at least respect me as a man who stands up for what he believes in. I am not an. I am in this fight to stay.”

“I cannot stand and sing the anthem. I cannot salute the flag. I know that I am a black man in a white world.”

“It was a small victory, for I had learned that I was in two wars, one against the foreign enemy, the other against prejudice at home.”

“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”

“The kid was great. He was the difference. The Yankees certainly didn't miss Joe DiMaggio out there in center field today—and won't as long as that guy's around.”