A Classic Is A Book That Doesn't

We Must Complain. Yes, Plain, Blunt Complaint, Ceaseless Agitation, Unfailing Exposure Of Dishonesty And Wrong - This Is The Ancient, Unerring Way To Liberty And We Must Follow It.

The Problem Of The Twentieth Century Is The Problem Of The Color-line, -- The Relation Of The Darker To The Lighter Races Of Men In Asia And Africa, In America And The Islands Of The Sea.

The History Of The American Negro Is The History Of This Strife, - This Longing To Attain Self-conscious Manhood, To Merge His Double Self Into A Better And Truer Self. In This Merging He Wishes Neither Of The Older Selves To Be Lost... He Simply Wishes To Make It Possible For A Man To Be Both A Negro And An American.

I Believe In Pride Of Race And Lineage And Self: In Pride Of Self So Deep As To Scorn Injustice To Other Selves.

One Thing Alone I Charge You. As You Live, Believe In Life! Always Human Beings Will Live And Progress To Greater, Broader And Fuller Life. The Only Possible Death Is To Lose Belief In This Truth Simply Because The Great End Comes Slowly, Because Time Is Long.