A. Philip Randolph Quotes

Powerful A. Philip Randolph for Daily Growth

About A. Philip Randolph

A. Philip Randolph (1889-1979), an influential American civil rights leader and labor organizer, was born on April 15, 1889, in Crescent City, Florida. Known for his pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement and the labor movement, Randolph's activism was heavily influenced by Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, two prominent figures of the time. After working as a Pullman porter to support himself through college, Randolph earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from City College of New York in 1915. He later went on to become a journalist and editor for The Messenger, a socialist magazine that aimed to educate African Americans about the labor movement. In 1925, Randolph co-founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP), the first successful labor union organized by African Americans. As its president, he led strikes and negotiations that eventually secured better wages and working conditions for thousands of black porters on railroads. Randolph's most significant contribution to civil rights came with his threat to organize a March on Washington in 1941, which would have paralyzed the nation's capital if President Franklin D. Roosevelt did not issue an executive order ending racial and ethnic discrimination in defense industries and government employment. This ultimately led to the creation of the Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC). Randolph served as president of the BSCP until 1968, when he retired from active leadership but remained a key figure in the civil rights movement. His other notable works include co-founding the Negro American Labor Council and playing a critical role in the desegregation of the U.S. military during World War II. A. Philip Randolph's life and work were instrumental in shaping both the labor movement and the broader civil rights struggle in America.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in economic affairs is the most intolerable, for while we are made equal by act of God, we are made unequal in circumstances of our birth."

This quote by A. Philip Randolph emphasizes that among all types of social inequalities, economic inequality is particularly unacceptable because it goes against the inherent equality that humans are born with. Economic injustice arises from circumstances beyond an individual's control, such as their birthplace or socio-economic background, making it fundamentally unfair and intolerable. This notion has been a driving force behind movements advocating for economic justice and equal opportunities, to ensure everyone has the chance to succeed regardless of their origins.

"The function of a free press under any government is to attack the abuses of power and to advocate on behalf of the people."

This quote by A. Philip Randolph highlights the crucial role of a free press in a democratic society. The press serves as a watchdog, exposing misuse or abuse of power by those in authority, ensuring transparency and accountability. Moreover, it champions the interests and voices of the people, acting as their advocates in the face of power imbalances. Essentially, a free press protects democracy by safeguarding individual rights, fostering public discourse, and promoting informed decision-making.

"We are fighting not merely for jobs, but for justice; not merely for employment, but for equality."

This quote by A. Philip Randolph highlights the interconnectedness between employment opportunities and social justice. He suggests that the pursuit of jobs is not simply an economic endeavor, but a fight for equality and fair treatment. In essence, he's saying that providing equal job opportunities helps to address broader issues of discrimination and inequality in society.

"Marching is not primarily a protest against injustice. It is affirmatively a demonstration for democracy."

This quote highlights that protests, specifically marches, are not only reactions to injustices, but also proactive expressions of democracy. A. Philip Randolph suggests that they are a means to demand fair representation and uphold the principles of democracy, emphasizing the importance of collective action in advocating for equal rights and justice.

"We believe in the American dream, that every man and woman who is willing to work and give his or her best should be able to enjoy the abundance and richness of America's bounty."

This quote by A. Philip Randolph highlights the core belief in the American Dream: equal opportunity for all individuals, irrespective of race or gender, who are willing to work hard and contribute their best, should be able to experience prosperity and wealth within American society. The "bounty" refers to the abundance and riches that America has to offer, a symbol of freedom, success, and the pursuit of happiness which should be accessible to all dedicated workers.

We seek the right to play our part in advancing the cause of national defense and national unity. But certainly, there can be no true national unity where one-tenth of the population is denied their basic rights as American citizens.

- A. Philip Randolph

Play, American Citizens, National Defense

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.

- A. Philip Randolph

Enjoy, Social, Possess, Weakest

Lincoln was the spokesman of the rising capitalist class of the North, who viewed the emancipation of Negro slaves as indispensable to the development and triumph of the manufacturers and bankers of the industrial North, East and West over the slave-holder of the South.

- A. Philip Randolph

Capitalist, Emancipation, Manufacturers

Since almost all Negroes are workers, live on wages, and suffer from the high cost of food, clothing and shelter, it is obvious that the Republican and Democratic Parties are opposed to their interests.

- A. Philip Randolph

Cost, Shelter, Opposed, Clothing

I am prepared to oppose a Jim Crow army till I rot in jail.

- A. Philip Randolph

I Am, Army, Till, Jim

The Negro was a political football between his former slave master and Northern political adventurers. The economic basis of this contest was the power to tax, to float bonds, to award franchise: in short, to gain control over the financial resources of the newly organized States.

- A. Philip Randolph

Financial, Bonds, Franchise, Newly

I don't ever remember a single day of hopelessness. I knew from the history of the labor movement, especially of the black people, that it was an undertaking of great trial. That, live or die, I had to stick with it, and we had to win.

- A. Philip Randolph

Die, Had, The History Of, Hopelessness

Negroes are in no mood to shoulder guns for democracy abroad while they are denied democracy here at home.

- A. Philip Randolph

Here, Guns, Abroad, Shoulder

We must develop huge demonstrations, because the world is used to big dramatic affairs. They think in terms of hundreds of thousands and millions and billions... Billions of dollars are appropriated at the twinkling of an eye. Nothing little counts.

- A. Philip Randolph

Big, Dollars, Counts, Twinkling

Negroes must be free in order to be equal, and they must be equal in order to be free... Men cannot win freedom unless they win equality. They cannot win equality unless they win freedom.

- A. Philip Randolph

Freedom, Equal, Unless, Free Men

If we have white persons in the March, we are certain to have trouble with the Communists, and it may not be viewed as a true expression of the Negro's protest.

- A. Philip Randolph

Expression, Protest, May, Communists

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.

- A. Philip Randolph

Process, Religious, Given, Economic

I suggest that ten thousand Negroes march on Washington, D.C., the capital of the Nation, with the slogan, 'We loyal Negro American citizens demand the right to work and fight for our country.'

- A. Philip Randolph

Country, Nation, Capital, Slogan

I personally pledge myself to openly counsel, aid, and abet youth, both black and white, to quarantine any Jim Crow conscription system.

- A. Philip Randolph

Myself, Black, Counsel, Pledge

Debs is greater than Lincoln. Debs is the spokesman of the great struggling working class of all races, nationalities, creeds, sexes.

- A. Philip Randolph

Spokesman, Working Class, Creeds

Patriotism has no appeal to us; justice has. Party has no weight with us; principle has. Loyalty is meaningless; it depends on what one is loyal to.

- A. Philip Randolph

Loyalty, Depends, Principle, Party

I have an inner satisfaction of having done what I thought was right at the time which I thought was propitious.

- A. Philip Randolph

Thought, Which, Having, Inner

Lincoln merely nominally freed the bodies of Negroes. But Debs would free the bodies and minds of Negroes.

- A. Philip Randolph

Minds, Would, Lincoln, Merely

Freedom is never granted; it is won.

- A. Philip Randolph

Freedom, Never, Won, Granted

If someone tried to deprive you of your rights, you've got to resist it. You've got to resent it. You've got to fight against it.

- A. Philip Randolph

Someone, Against, Tried, Resent

In every truth, the beneficiaries of a system cannot be expected to destroy it.

- A. Philip Randolph

Truth, System, Expected, Destroy

Freedom is never given; it is won.

- A. Philip Randolph

Freedom, Never, Given, Won

Justice is never given; it is exacted.

- A. Philip Randolph

Never, Given, Justice

Salvation for a race, nation or class must come from within.

- A. Philip Randolph

Nation, Race, Within, Salvation

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