Melvin B. Tolson Quotes

7 Sourced Quotes

Out of abysses of Illiteracy, Through labyrinths of Lies, Across wastelands of Disease... We advance Out of dead-ends of Poverty, Through wilderness of Superstition, Across barricades of Jim Crowism... We advance.

Melvin B. Tolson

A nagging woman is a bird beating her wings against the cage of matrimony. Henpecking is her revenge for her marital misery.

Melvin B. Tolson

Freedom is the oxygen
of the studio and gallery.

Melvin B. Tolson

Art is not barrel copper easily separated
from the matrix;
it is not fresh tissues
—for microscopic study—
one may fix:
unique as the white tiger's
pink paws and blue eyes,Art
leaves her lover as a Komitas
deciphering intricate Armenian neums,
with a wild surmise.

Melvin B. Tolson

Into the matrix of the Republic poured
White gulf streams of Europe,
Black tidal waves of Africa,
Yellow neap tides of Asia,
Niagaras of the little people.
America?
America is the Black Man's country
The Red Man's, the Yellow Man's,
The Brown Man's, the White Man's.

Melvin B. Tolson

I judge
My soul
Eagle
Nor mole:
A man
Is what
He saves
From rot.

Melvin B. Tolson

Three hundred years we slaved,
We slave and suffer yet;
Though flesh and bone rebel,
They tell us to forget!

Melvin B. Tolson

Melvin B. Tolson

Melvin B. Tolson

Born: February 6, 1898

Died: August 29, 1966 (aged 68)

Bio: Melvin Beaunorus Tolson was an American Modernist poet, educator, columnist, and politician. His work concentrated on the experience of African Americans and includes several long historical poems.

Known for:

Harlem gallery (1965)
A gallery of Harlem portraits
The Harlem group of Negro writers (1940)
Libretto for the Republic of Liberia (1953)
Caviar and cabbage

Melvin B. Tolson on Wikipedia

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