FaceMyWords

Maya Angelou-  Author, poet, civil rights activist-

Excerpt from ‘Still I Rise”-

“You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

W.E.B. Du Bois-  sociologist, historian, civil rights activist-

Langston Hughes- poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist-

Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear. I have as much right As the other fellow has To stand On my two feet And own the land. I tire so of hearing people say, Let things take their course. Tomorrow is another day. I do not need my freedom when I'm dead. I cannot live on tomorrow's bread. Freedom Is a strong seed Planted In a great need. I live here, too. I want freedom Just as you. 

Fred T. Korematsu- Japanese-American Civil Rights Activist-

Statue of Liberty- Ellis Island-

Barbara Jordan-  Politician. Leader in the Civil Rights Movement. Lesbian-

"We, the people." It is a very elegant beginning. But when that document was completed on the 17th of September in 1787, I was not included in that "We, the people."

Frederick Douglass-  Abolitionist, Suffragist, Author, Editor, Diplomat

"Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe. " 

John Lewis-  U.S. Representative for Georgia's 5th congressional district- Civil Rights Activist

“In the struggle we must seek more than civil rights; we must work for the community of love, peace and true brotherhood.  Our minds, souls, and hearts cannot rest until freedom and justice exist for all the people.”

Malala Yousafzai- Pakistani activist for female education, Nobel Prize laureate

Nelson Mandela- Anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist

John Trudell-  Santee Dakota activist, artist, actor, and poet-

Toni Morrison- Author- The Guardian (29 January 1992)-

“In this country American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate.”

George Takei- Quote from ‘Ride of Fame’ Induction- Dec. 10, 2015-

"Our democracy is dependent on people who passionately cherish the ideals of a democracy. Every man is created equal with an inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It's a wonderful idea and it takes people who cherish that idea to be actively involved in the process."

Muhammed Ali- Feb 26, 1964- Interview

“I know where I’m going and I know the truth, and I don’t have to be what you want me to be. I’m free to be what I want.”

Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)- November 15, 2016-

"Over the course of his campaign, Donald Trump degraded and demeaned Americans, threatened our rights, and attacked the privileges of citizenship. He will have a disastrous presidency if he governs that way, and he must show the American people with words and action how he will change direction," Booker's statement said. "Many have offered to give him a chance to do so, despite his divisive campaigning, and he should not squander that opportunity to unite our nation."

Malcolm X- “By any means necessary” (1965) quote- 

“We declare our right on this earth to be a man, to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.”

FaceMyWords is an ongoing project designed to put the faces and words of both those who are being marginalized (PoC, LGBTQ+, Women, other religions, and any other sort of discrimination), as well as those who have fought and are fighting to help anyone being marginalized.

The initial idea came to me (John) as I was trying to find a way to use my design ability to help other people. As an ally, I wanted a way to use words and images to help boost the stories of people who have them to tell.

If you have a story yourself or know of a good subject, I would love to hear it and feature it on the site. Reach out here with a message or email me at [email protected]

If you want to help do design work along these lines (no rules, just faces and words) let me know, I would love to have the help.

You can find us on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/facemywords/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/facemywords

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/facemywords/

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/facemywords