- Surely the day will come when color means nothing more than the skin tone, when religion is seen uniquely as a way to speak one's soul; when birth places have the weight of a throw of the dice and all men are born free, when understanding breeds love and brotherhood."
- I believe in prayer. It's the best way we have to draw strength from heaven.
- A violinist had a violin, a painer his palette. All I had was myself. I was the instrument that I must care for.
- The things we truly love stay with us always, locked in our hearts as long as life remains.
- ... I improvised, crazed by the music... Even my teeth and eyes burned with fever. Each time I leaped I seemed to touch the sky and when I regained earth it seemed to be mine alone.
- Beautiful? It's all a question of luck. I was born with good legs. As for the rest... beautiful, no. Amusing, yes.
- We must change the system of education and instruction. Unfortunately, history has shown us that brotherhood must be learned, when it should be natural.
- I did take the blows [of life], but I took them with my chin up, in dignity, because I so profoundly love and respect humanity.
- I'm not intimidated by anyone. Everyone is made with two arms, two legs, a stomach and a head. Just think about that.
- We've got to show that blacks and whites are treated equally in the army. Otherwise, what's the point of waging war on Hitler?
- The things we truly love stay with us always, locked in our hearts as long as life remains.
- One day I realized I was living in a country where I was afraid to be black. It was only a country for white people. Not black. So I left. I had been suffocating in the United States... A lot of us left, not because we wanted to leave, but because we couldn't stand it anymore... I felt liberated in Paris.
- I think they must mix blood, otherwise the human race is bound to degenerate. Mixing blood is marvelous. It makes strong and intelligent men. It takes away tired spirits.
- Until the March on Washington, I always had this little feeling in my stomach. I was always afraid. I couldn't meet white American people. I didn't want to be around them. But now that little gnawing feeling is gone. For the first time in my life I feel free. I know that everything is right now.
Josephine Baker Quotes
By Jessica McElrath, About.com
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