Dear Martin Quotes

“You can’t change how other people think and act, but you’re in full control of you. When it comes down to it, the only question that matters is this: If nothing in the world ever changes, what type of man are you gonna be?”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“You ever consider that maybe you not supposed to 'fit'? People who make history rarely do.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“People often learn more from getting an undeserved pass than they would from being punished.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“Yeah, there are no more “colored” water fountains, and it’s supposed to be illegal to discriminate, but if I can be forced to sit on the concrete in too-tight cuffs when I’ve done nothing wrong, it’s clear there’s an issue. That things aren’t as equal as folks say they are.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“You can't change how other people think and act, but you're in full control of you.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“But before you say something “isn’t fair,” you should consider your starting point versus someone else’s.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“SJ: Ah, okay... so you're saying people just need to pull themselves up by their boostraps?
Jared: Exactly.
SJ: In order to do that, they have to be able to afford boots.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“What do I do when my very identity is being mocked by people who refuse to admit there’s a problem?”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“You ever consider that maybe you not supposed to ‘fit’? People who make history rarely do.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“It’s like I’m trying to climb a mountain, but I’ve got one fool trying to shove me down so I won’t be on his level, and another fool tugging at my leg, trying to pull me to the ground he refuses to leave. Jared and Trey are only two people, but after today, I know that when I head to Yale next fall (because I AM going there), I’m gonna be paranoid about people looking at me and wondering if I’m qualified to be there. How do I work against this, Martin? Getting real with you, I feel a little defeated. Knowing there are people who don’t want me to succeed is depressing. Especially coming from two directions.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“I thought if I made sure to be an upstanding member of society, I’d be exempt from the stuff THOSE black guys deal with, you know? Really hard to swallow that I was wrong.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“I’ve got one memory of the day everything happened: sharp pains in my chest and shoulder, and then not being able to breathe. In that moment when I thought I was dying, it hit me: despite how good of a dude Martin was, they still killed him, man.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“That idiot ‘pundit’ would rather believe you and Manny were thugs than believe a twenty-year veteran cop made a snap judgment based on skin color. He identifies with the cop. If the cop is capable of murder, it means he’s capable of the same. He can’t accept that.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“Why try to do right if people will always look at me and assume wrong?”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“Turn on the news, another black man slain. They say" Its okay. Save your voice, don't complain. This isn't about race so stop using that excuse. Now look at this funny picture of Obama in a noose! See how colorblind we are? You're not really black to me. Underneath, where it all matters, we both bleed red you see? So put away that race card: it aint 1962. Theres no more segregation, isn't that enough for you?”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“I BELIEVE THAT UNARMED TRUTH AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE WILL HAVE THE FINAL WORD IN REALITY. —REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. NOBEL PEACE PRIZE ACCEPTANCE SPEECH, DECEMBER 10, 1964”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“because I was asking the wrong damn question. Every challenge I’ve faced, it’s been What would Martin do? and I could never come up with a real answer. But if I go with Doc’s thinking—Who would Martin BE?—well, that’s easy: you’d be yourself. THE eminent MLK: nonviolent, not easily discouraged, and firm in your beliefs.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“But I don’t think knowing he’d be killed would’ve changed the way he lived, Jus. He challenged the status quo and helped bring about some change. Pretty sure that was his goal. Wouldn’t you agree?”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“It’s like I’m trying to climb a mountain, but I’ve got one fool trying to shove me down so I won’t be on his level, and another fool tugging at my leg, trying to pull me to the ground he refuses to leave.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“The real issue? He didn't wanna be the black guy accused of" playing the race card "at a state tournament.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“He turned to her then. Though he prolly shouldn't have. Cuzfeelings.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“Kyle: Right, dude. Like I totally don’t even see you as black, Manny! [Manny laughs at this, but Justyce can tell his heart isn’t in it. The statement makes Justyce think about those handcuffs… these fools might not “see” Manny “as black,” but Justyce knows damn well the police would.]”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“All they ‘protect and serve’ is their own interests”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“Blake, though? Blake takes it too far. He’s dressed as a Klansman. He’s got on the white robe with the circular red and white cross patch on the chest, and he even has the pointed hood with the eyeholes cut out. If Jus didn’t know it was a costume, he’d be a little scared.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“He identifies with the cop. If the cop is capable of murder, it means he’s capable of the same. He can’t accept that.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“I still miss him so much, dude,” he says, his voice breaking. “It’s been almost a year and I still just can’t—I’m sorry, man, you don’t wanna hear all this.”

“Nah, it’s cool.” Now Jus’s eyes are moist. “I understand, man. I really do.”

“He’s never gonna visit me at college or be my best man, you know?”...

"He was my first real friend. I thought we’d grow old together and shit, you know?”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“some of Quan’s words run laps in Jus’s head: Resistance is existence….These white people don’t got no respect for us….There’s no escaping the Black Man’s Curse….It’s exactly the kind of thinking Jus tried to combat with the letters to Martin.”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“What do I do when my very identity is being mocked by people who refuse to admin there’s a problem?”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“Why try to do right if people will always look at me and assume wrong?” Justyce”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“Turn on the news, another black man slain. They say “It’s okay. Save your voice, don’t complain. This isn’t about race, so stop using that excuse. Now, look at this funny picture of Obama in a noose! See how color-blind we are? You’re not”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin