We knew then what we know now; only exemplary blacks are acceptable.

Quote by Constance Baker Motley

Topics: Constance Baker Motley Quotes

King consciously steered away from legal claims and instead relied on civil disobedience.

King consciously steered away from legal claims and instead relied on civil disobedience.

Had it not been for James Meredith, who was willing to risk his life, the...

Had it not been for James Meredith, who was willing to risk his life, the...

My parents never told us that our great-grandmothers had been slaves.

My parents never told us that our great-grandmothers had been slaves.

Living at the YMCA in Harlem dramatically broadened my view of the world.

Living at the YMCA in Harlem dramatically broadened my view of the world.

When I was 15, I decided I wanted to be a lawyer. No one thought...

When I was 15, I decided I wanted to be a lawyer. No one thought...

How long must the American community afford special treatment to blacks?

How long must the American community afford special treatment to blacks?

The last state to admit a black student to the college level was South Carolina.

The last state to admit a black student to the college level was South Carolina.

The fact is that racism, despite all the doomsayers, has diminished.

The fact is that racism, despite all the doomsayers, has diminished.

Too many whites still see blacks as a group apart.

Too many whites still see blacks as a group apart.

My father kept his distance from working-class American blacks.

My father kept his distance from working-class American blacks.

We African Americans have now spent the major part of the 20th Century battling racism.

We African Americans have now spent the major part of the 20th Century battling racism.

I remember being infuriated from the top of my head to the tip of my...

I remember being infuriated from the top of my head to the tip of my...

Columbia Law School men were being drafted, and suddenly women who had done well in...

Columbia Law School men were being drafted, and suddenly women who had done well in...

I soon found law school an unmitigated bore.

I soon found law school an unmitigated bore.

Sexism, like racism, goes with us into the next century. I see class warfare as...

Sexism, like racism, goes with us into the next century. I see class warfare as...

There is no longer a single common impediment to blacks emerging in this society.

There is no longer a single common impediment to blacks emerging in this society.

Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.

Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.

In high school, I discovered myself. I was interested in race relations and the legal...

In high school, I discovered myself. I was interested in race relations and the legal...

In my view, I did not get to the federal bench because I was a...

In my view, I did not get to the federal bench because I was a...

Whites would rather not be involved in race matters, I think.

Whites would rather not be involved in race matters, I think.