human-rights-day

In an age when nations and individuals routinely exchange murder for murder, when the healing grace of authentic spirituality is usurped by the divisive politics of religious organizations, and when broken hearts bleed pain in darkness without the relief of compassion, the voice of an exceptional poet producing exceptional work is not something the world can afford to dismiss.

When we hide discrimination under the guise of 'religious freedom,' we make a mockery of human rights.

Got just enough room to be a friend of yours. Oh I hope you got room to be a friend of mine.

Beneath the armor of skin/and/bone/and/mindmost of our colors are amazingly the same.

The city of Paris, France, became a place of refuge for biracial Americans during slavery and at the time of the Harlem Renaissance for black musicians, fine artists, writers and others seeking opportunities to practice their craft free from American racism.

Privilege is when you can afford to sit back and watch as others' rights are trampled upon.

Bigotry is based on deception, of oneself and of others.

Never be content to sit back and watch as others' rights are trampled upon. Your rights could be next.

The minute we look away, the minute we stop fighting back, that's the minute bigotry wins.

Standing against discrimination for some while supporting discrimination against others hurts us all.

It speaks volumes when people who are discriminated against go on to discriminate against others.

We believe in equality for all, and privileges for none. This is a belief that each American regardless of background has equal standing in the public forum, all of us. Because we believe this idea so firmly, we are an inclusive, rather than an exclusive party. Let everybody come.

Before the thunderous clamor of political debate or war set loose in the world, love insisted on its promise for the possibility of human unity: between men and women, between blacks and whites, northerners and southerners, haves and have-have-nots, self and self.

Millions of tears have fallen for black sons, brothers, lovers, and friends whose assailants took or maimed their lives and then simply went on their way.

The issue, perhaps, boils down to one of how perceptions or misperceptions of racial difference impact various individuals_, or groups of individuals_, experience of freedom in America. Some would argue that it goes beyond hampering their 'pursuit of happiness' to outright obliterating it.

Calling for an end to hate shouldn't be treated as a punishable offense.

If you'd combat bigotry, use honest language and call things out for what they really are.