The First Ladies Quotes

“I was invited. And even though I anticipated their reaction, their racism isn’t my problem. Racism belongs to the people who are racists.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“You must never apologize for a sin someone else has committed,”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“Part of the struggle to make change is the struggle to get the right change-makers in place.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“any day a lesson’s learned is a good day.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“You must never apologize for a sin someone else has committed,” she says with a shake of her head.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“One day, you’ll be scrutinized and scorned, and the next, you’ll be celebrated and lauded. Sometimes by the very same people. You will not be able to control the narrative, but you can act according to your conscience, particularly in your personal life. And at the end of the day, that should be the only measure that matters.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“Using our voices and casting our votes for the party that is going to do the most good . . . or the least harm. We can’t afford to be devoted to one party; we must be committed to supporting the best policies for us. And sometimes that may mean supporting the party that will do nothing over the party that will do everything to harm us.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“The melancholy doesn’t care if you’re colored or white, at war here or abroad. It takes hold when it feels like it, not when we believe it’s justified.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“A distinguished woman is never a follower—she is always a leader—and you, Mary, are a distinguished woman.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“Eleanor, we are all entitled to live our lives with love.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“One thing I knew for certain: If seeing me with a book made Margaret that angry, then I needed to learn how to read. Within a year I was in school, because Margaret had taught me the importance of education for colored girls like me.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“I was only a young girl when I discovered that a happenstance of birth, nothing but skin color, could deem a person a blessing or a burden.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“The color of her skin has never defined what she can and cannot do.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“I’m not usually one to hold back my thoughts. While I don’t speak for the sake of speaking, I employ my words to do that to which I am called: Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy, as it says in the book of Proverbs.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“One day, you’ll be scrutinized and scorned, and the next, you’ll be celebrated and lauded. Sometimes by the very same people. You will not be able to control the narrative, but you can act according to your conscience, particularly in your personal life. And at the end of the day, that should be the only measure that matters.” In fact, it should”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“The truth is no one’s business but mine—and whomever I care to share it with.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“Because it evokes a terrible truth that Mary revealed to me not long ago. Inaction in the face of racism is acquiescence to it.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“If I have a legacy to leave my people, it is my philosophy of living and serving. As I face tomorrow, I am content, for I think I have spent my life well. I pray now that my philosophy may be helpful to those who share my vision of a world of Peace, Progress, Brotherhood and Love.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“But that doesn’t mean absorbing others’ troubles and fighting for them doesn’t take a toll. Especially when we’re faced with such strident and merciless detractors in response.” I”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“Don’t feel as though you have to answer me. I can see plain as day that a melancholy has taken hold of you. I am here to offer whatever support you need. Even if that means simply sitting quietly.” She allows the room to settle into silence. Melancholy. That’s it exactly, I think. A deep melancholy at the state of the world and the futility of my efforts. No one else has ever identified it so precisely.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“We don’t need white people to save us; we just need white people to be fair and enact laws that guarantee equality.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“White folks—even well-meaning ones—routinely presume they know what’s best for us. And it pains me to say it, Eleanor, but that’s exactly what happened here.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“One day, you’ll be scrutinized and scorned, and the next, you’ll be celebrated and lauded. Sometimes by the very same people. You will not be able to control the narrative, but you can act according to your conscience, particularly in your personal life. And at the end of the day, that”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“I was invited. And even though I anticipated their reaction, their racism isn't my problem. Racism belongs to the people who are racists.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“we are all entitled to live our lives with love.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy, as it says in the book of Proverbs.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“Florida has a new governor. The Democrat, Doyle E. Carlton, has handily defeated the Republican candidate, W. J. Howey.” A collective moan echoes through the office, although it’s more about the Democrats’ victory rather than our defeat. I supported Howey only because of the alternative. But with Howey’s embrace of lily-whitism and his desire to bring white voters back to the Republican Party to the detriment of Black voters, I saw little difference between Carlton and Howey.”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies

“move through the room, shaking hands and thanking everyone for voting. A small group has gathered near the radio, and one of the young ladies says, “Mrs. Bethune, I didn’t know how important voting was until you registered my parents.” I nod. “Most people don’t know the value of our vote, but the Democrats understand. That’s why they work so hard to make sure colored people never vote. So”
― Marie Benedict, The First Ladies