Political Quotes

“And still I rise. And I rise tonight with love of country and heart inspired by ``Harriet.'' ``Harriet,'' the movie. I saw the movie, ``Harriet,'' and I was inspired to speak tonight because of some of the horrors associated with the movie. There were some high points in the movie, but the movie is about a person born into slavery, a person who had been given the promise of freedom, freedom that was denied. Inspired by this movie, I rise. I also would rise because I am inspired by the poem Maya Angelou left us, the poem that allows us to express some of the reasons why I am here in this Congress, if you will. In this poem in the last stanza, she leaves us these words: Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. The dreams and hopes of the Harriets, the dreams and hopes of those who were able to survive the journey across the ocean; those who were able to survive and not be lynched; those who were able to survive Jim Crow laws, and Bull Connor's dogs. I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise. I rise. I rise. I am proud that Maya Angelou gave us this poem, because it gives us something to believe in. We are the hope of the slave. There are many of us. I am not the only one, but I rise tonight. I rise because I am the beneficiary of people who lived and died so that I might have this moment. I am not supposed to be in Congress.…”