James A. Forbes

“In minor crises, the preacher can extract himself emotionally and allow others to express grief and fear and doubt while he remains strong.”

“I am a person who sings. I know not everyone is, but that won't keep the Spirit from putting a song in your heart.”

“When people rely on surface appearances and false racial stereotypes, rather than in-depth knowledge of others at the level of the heart, mind and spirit, their ability to assess and understand people accurately is compromised.”

“Civilizations may clash, but they surely fall if robbed of light from above. It could come from the 1 percent or the 99%, but a guiding light is needed to keep the United States from becoming the rubble of past great civilizations.”

“Given the historical power differential between blacks and whites, blacks are required to be attentive to the way their white counterparts see themselves in relation to people of color if they want to survive and even thrive.”

“The saddest face I ever saw on Martin Luther King was at the funeral of the four little girls slain in Birmingham, Alabama.”

“Let's be cautious about narrow nationalism.”

“Some people in this nation believe that race is a significant factor in the constant attacks against President Obama. Others believe that these attacks reflect only the normal level of criticism aimed at the occupant of the White House.”

“White supremacy is not just a social arrangement: it is a race-based faith.”

“Let's be cautious about relying so much on material things that we have no energy left for the spiritual aspects of our lives.”

“My church has an historical emphasis on peace, but we can't enjoy peace without honoring the blood our soldiers shed for it.”

“The American dream is under assault.”

“The Occupy Wall Street project feels like a burning ember that might light the torch of justice and inflame our longing for freedom.”