Marion Barry Quotes

Powerful Marion Barry for Daily Growth

About Marion Barry

Marion Barry, born on March 6, 1936, in Itta Bena, Mississippi, was an influential American politician who served as the fourth Mayor of Washington, D.C., four times between 1979 and 2015. Raised by his grandmother in Itta Bena before moving to Memphis, Tennessee at age 13, Barry's early life was marked by hardship and segregation. He earned a scholarship to LeMoyne College in Memphis, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1958. Barry moved to Washington, D.C., in the late 1950s to pursue graduate studies at Howard University and became deeply involved in the city's civil rights movement. He was one of the founders of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and was instrumental in organizing the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. In 1974, Barry was elected to the D.C. City Council, and four years later he became the city's first elected mayor following home rule legislation passed by Congress. Known for his charismatic leadership style and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of D.C.'s underserved communities, Barry implemented policies aimed at reducing crime, improving education, and creating affordable housing. Barry's political career was not without controversy. In 1990, he was sentenced to six years in prison for drug possession, but he continued to serve as mayor while on parole. After serving his sentence, Barry regained the mayoral seat twice more, despite facing health issues and allegations of corruption. Marion Barry passed away on November 23, 2014, leaving behind a legacy as a trailblazing figure in American politics who fought tirelessly for social justice and the rights of his constituents. His major works include "Hard Truths: Memoirs of a Very Public Man," published in 2008, which detailed his life, career, and struggles.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I would hope that I am remembered as a guy who loved people."

Marion Barry, the former mayor of Washington D.C., is remembered as someone deeply caring for the people. This quote emphasizes his compassionate nature and his dedication to serving and connecting with his community. In his life, he demonstrated a genuine love for the people, making him not only a political figure but also a symbol of empathy and care in public service.


"If I'm going to go out and fight for the people, I might as well enjoy myself."

Marion Barry's quote emphasizes that engaging in meaningful work or service, such as fighting for the people, should be not only fulfilling but also enjoyable. It suggests a personal commitment to make a positive impact while deriving satisfaction from the process itself. This perspective underscores the idea that dedication and passion can bring joy and pleasure when striving for a worthy cause.


"My godson asked me if marijuana affected memory. I said, 'Yes, it does.'"

Marion Barry's quote suggests that marijuana can have an impact on memory, implying a potential negative effect, specifically when used excessively or inappropriately. However, it's important to note that the impacts of marijuana on memory can vary greatly among individuals, as well as being influenced by factors such as dose, frequency of use, and personal sensitivity. The quote also humorously presents an everyday scenario where wisdom is passed down through experience.


"The only thing that can solve a crisis is solutions."

This quote by Marion Barry suggests that the only effective way to resolve a crisis or difficult situation is by finding practical, actionable solutions. It implies that dwelling on the problem without taking steps towards solving it will not bring about positive change. In essence, the quote encourages proactivity, problem-solving, and resilience in the face of adversity.


"I am not a crook." (Although this quote was actually made by former U.S. President Richard Nixon, Marion Barry used it famously during his own legal troubles.)

This quote, originally uttered by former U.S. President Richard Nixon but later adopted by Marion Barry, signifies an emphatic denial of any wrongdoing or corruption. In the context of both men's public lives, they used it during their respective legal troubles to assert their innocence in the face of accusations and scandals. It is a statement that serves as a resolute affirmation of integrity, even when faced with adversity or suspicion.


If you take out the killings, Washington actually has a very very low crime rate.

- Marion Barry

Very, Actually, Take, Crime Rate

This is not a sham, not a game. This is the real stuff.

- Marion Barry

Game, Real, Stuff, Sham

Everybody in life has something that they get knocked down on. The object lesson here is not that you get knocked down - it is that you get up.

- Marion Barry

Here, Get, Everybody, Object

Why should blacks feel elated about seeing men walk on the moon when millions of poor blacks and whites don't have enough money to buy food to eat on earth?

- Marion Barry

Buy, About, Elated, Enough Money

I love serving people. I love helping people empower themselves.

- Marion Barry

Love, Helping, I Love, Helping People

I am making this trip to Africa because Washington is an international city, just like Tokyo, Nigeria or Israel. As mayor, I am an international symbol. Can you deny that to Africa?

- Marion Barry

Making, Africa, Symbol, International

I read a funny story about how the Republicans freed the slaves. The Republicans are the ones who created slavery by law in the 1600's. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves and he was not a Republican.

- Marion Barry

Law, Slaves, Read, None

What dragged me down was not being mayor - it was insecurity, the need to be accepted by everyone, the pleasure syndrome. That's what brought me down.

- Marion Barry

Need, Mayor, Brought, Syndrome

Love is very fleeting with me. I don't know why.

- Marion Barry

Love, Fleeting, Very, Love Is

I am clearly more popular than Reagan. I am in my third term. Where's Reagan? Gone after two! Defeated by George Bush and Michael Dukakis no less.

- Marion Barry

Defeated, More, Reagan, Popular

People have criticised me because my security detail is larger than the president's. But you must ask yourself: are there more people who want to kill me than who want to kill the president? I can assure you there are.

- Marion Barry

More, Larger, More People, Assure

White folks may let you in their country clubs to play golf, invite you out to dinner, take you out to play tennis, but when it comes to dividing up the money, that's a whole 'nother story.

- Marion Barry

Play, Country, Dividing, Invite

The brave men who died in Vietnam, more than 100% of which were black, were the ultimate sacrifice.

- Marion Barry

More, Ultimate, Which, Brave

First, it was not a strip bar, it was an erotic club. And second, what can I say? I'm a night owl.

- Marion Barry

Night, Owl, Strip, Bar

Aside from the murders, DC has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.

- Marion Barry

Country, Aside, Rates, DC

In Washington, I have worked hard for the people, and I've been loved by the people.

- Marion Barry

Loved, Been, Worked, For The People

Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.

- Marion Barry

Country, Outside, Rates, Washington

Washington, D.C., had never seen my style of politics.

- Marion Barry

Politics, Never, Had, Washington

Who can better help our city recover than someone who himself has gone through recovery?

- Marion Barry

Help, Better, Through, Gone

People blame me because these water mains break, but I ask you, if the water mains didn't break, would it be my responsibility to fix them then?

- Marion Barry

Break, Them, Then, Blame

I promise you a police car on every sidewalk.

- Marion Barry

Car, Promise, Sidewalk, Police

The laws in this city are clearly racist. All laws are racist. The law of gravity is racist.

- Marion Barry

Law, City, Laws, Gravity

I like boxing.

- Marion Barry

Like, Boxing

What right does Congress have to go around making laws just because they deem it necessary?

- Marion Barry

Just Because, Making, Laws, Deem

My greatest work comes in the community.

- Marion Barry

Work, Greatest, Community

I have to admit I didn't do as much as I should have back when I was mayor, but now we're getting it done. It's not where you've been but where you're going.

- Marion Barry

Back, Going, Been, Mayor

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