Artists Are The Gatekeepers Of Truth.

The Talents Of An Artist, Small Or Large, Are God-given... They Are A Sacred Trust.

Every Artist, Every Scientist, Every Writer Must Decide Now Where He Stands. The Artist Must Take Sides. He Must Elect To Fight For Freedom Or For Slavery. I Have Made My Choice. I Had No Alternative.

I Feel Closer To My Country Than Ever. There Is No Longer A Feeling Of Lonesome Isolation. Instead-peace. I Return Without Fearing Prejudice That Once Bothered Me . . . For I Know That People Practice Cruel Bigotry In Their Ignorance, Not Maliciously

Through The Years I Have Received My Share Of Recognition For Efforts In The Fields Of Sports, The Arts, The Struggle For Full Citizenship For The Negro People, Labor's Rights And The Fight For Peace.

In My Music, My Plays, My Films, I Want To Carry Always This Central Idea: To Be African.