Black Pearls Living

Sometimes the runt pig beats the whole litter growing.

—African-American Proverb

We shouldn’t depend on the outside world for our happiness; we should have our private world where we go for some peace. So we must be careful about how we build our private worlds.

—J. California Cooper

I did not realize it then, but the phrase, “We are very proud of you,” always with the emphasis on very, boosted me immeasurably through the years.

—Jonah Martin Edelman

It often requires more courage to read some books than it does to fight a battle.

—Sutton E. Griggs

Affirmative action begins at home.

—Detroit Barber

Our children may learn about heroes of the past. Our task is to make ourselves architects of the future.

—Jomo Kenyatta

Express positive emotions of love, happiness, and self-confidence. Negative emotions are destructive; positive emotions heal.

—John E. Copage

You cannot fight by being on the outside complaining and whining. You have to get on the inside to be able to assess their strengths and weaknesses and then move in.

—Shirley Chisholm

If you’re lucky, you grow up in a house where you can learn what kind of person you should be from your parents. And on that count I was very lucky.

—Michael Jordan

Our society allows people to be absolutely neurotic and totally out of touch with their feelings and everyone else’s feelings, and yet be very respectable.

—Ntozake Shange