Letitia James Quotes

When we address the disparities facing black people, we get a lot closer to a true democracy where all lives matter.

However, while we should certainly celebrate the demise of overt official racism, we must also critically examine where we are at this historical moment, recognize the many challenges ahead and reaffirm our commitment to making Brown v. Board a reality.

In this room we're all here together, but there's probably a lot of different views, people sitting here thinking, I don't own any slaves, all the slaves are dead. Why am I responsible? My family were immigrants, too.

We have three hundred years of neglect to pay for.

Affirmative action is the majority’s constitutional prerogative, through the use of the democratic process—and a means of taking responsibility for the community’s past wrongdoing.

We've come a long way from the days where there was state-enforced segregation. But we still have a way to go.

I do think that some form of reparations for the descendants of American slavery would go a long way.

The justice of our cause must be reflected in the manner in which we rectify the crimes of the past.

I am a strong believer that without justice, there is no peace. No lasting peace, anyway.

Certainly we can end racism with love. We can demand that the federal government change its emphasis on racial distinction.

Once the fabric of a just society is undone, it takes generations to weave it back together.

Black history isn't a separate history. This is all of our history, this is American history, and we need to understand that. It has such an impact on kids and their values and how they view black people.

I don't want a Black History Month. Black history is American history.

If you are serving justice to one person, those who have been affected should also be served some form of justice.

The legal battle against segregation is won, but the community battle goes on.

Reconciliation should be accompanied by justice, otherwise it will not last. While we all hope for peace it shouldn't be peace at any cost but peace based on principle, on justice.

I, for one, would think both about how far we have come as a country and how much further we need to go to erase racism and discrimination from our society.

When people think about reparations, they immediately think about people who've been dead for 100 years.

I don't think we should stop emphasizing race because I think, you know, race is still very, very important, and we have to recognize that and continue to introduce programs to address racial inequities. But we have to widen our vision and also address the growing problems of economic class.

Until racial justice and freedom is a reality in this land, our union will remain profoundly imperfect.... The Negro is going to get justice or this society will be ripped apart.

We are out to defeat injustice and not white persons who may be unjust.

Nobody wants to get over the legacy of slavery more than Black people do.

Regardless of the eventual shape of the evolved discourse and policy on reparations, there are five essential aspects which must be addressed and included in any meaningful and moral approach to reparations. They are public admission, public apology, public recognition, compensation, and institutional preventive measures against the recurrence of holocaust and other similar forms of massive destruction of human life, human culture and human possibility.

The net of law is spread so wide, No sinner from its sweep may hide. Its meshes are so fine and strong They take in every child of wrong. O wondrous web of mystery ! Big fish alone escape from thee !

I do not buy the concept, popular in the ’60s, which said, ‘We have suppressed the black man for 300 years and the white man is now far ahead in the race for everything our society offers. In order to even the score, we must now give the black man a head start, or even hold the white man back, to even the race…I don’t feel responsible for the sins of my father and grandfather. I feel responsible for what the situation is today, for the sins of my own generation. And I’ll be damned if I feel responsible to pay for what happened 300 years ago.