A. Philip Randolph Quotes, born April 15, 1889, in Crescent City, Florida, was a trailblazing American labor leader and civil rights activist who founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first successful African American-led labor union in 1925. His advocacy led to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1941 Executive Order 8802, banning discrimination in defense industries, and President Harry S. Truman’s 1948 orders desegregating the armed forces. A key organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, Randolph’s vision shaped the Civil Rights Movement.
These 15 quotes—sourced from his speeches, writings, and interviews—reflect his insights on freedom, justice, equality, and the power of organized action, capturing his unwavering commitment to social progress until his passing in 1979.
15 A. Philip Randolph Quotes
- “Freedom is never given; it is won.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “Salvation for a race, nation or class must come from within.” (QuoteFancy, n.d.)
- “Justice is never given; it is exacted and the struggle must be continuous for freedom is never a final fact.” (Goodreads, n.d.)
- “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.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “At the banquet table of nature, there are no reserved seats. You get what you can take, and you keep what you can hold.” (InspiringQuotes, n.d.)
- “The essence of trade unionism is social uplift. The labor movement has been the haven for the dispossessed, the despised, the neglected, the downtrodden, the poor.” (Bookey, 2023)
- “Nothing counts but pressure, pressure, more pressure, and still more pressure through broad organized aggressive mass action.” (DoOneThing, n.d.)
- “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.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “Equality is the heart and essence of democracy, freedom, and justice.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “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.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “Those who deplore our militants, who exhort patience in the name of a false peace, are in fact supporting segregation and exploitation.” (QuoteFancy, n.d.)
- “In every truth, the beneficiaries of a system cannot be expected to destroy it.” (InspiringQuotes, n.d.)
- “We must develop huge demonstrations, because the world is used to big dramatic affairs.” (DoOneThing, n.d.)
- “Negroes must be free in order to be equal, and they must be equal in order to be free.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “Power is the flower of organization.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
A. Philip Randolph’s quotes pulse with relentless determination, righteous passion, and a call for justice through organized action, inspiring us to fight for equality and stand firm against oppression. Which quote stirs your resolve? Share it in the comments and keep Randolph’s transformative legacy alive!
Emma Thompson
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