H.I.M. Haile Selassie I Speech to the United
Nations (excerpt)
"...until the philosophy which holds one
race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and
abandoned: That until there are no longer first-class and second class citizens
of any nation; That until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance
than the color of his eyes; That until the basic human rights are equally
guaranteed to all without regard to race; That until that day, the dream of
lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will
remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained; And until the
ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and
in South Africa in subhuman bondage have been toppled and destroyed; Until
bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been
replaced by understanding and tolerance and good-will; Until all Africans stand
and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes
of Heaven; Until that day, the African continent will not know peace. We
Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are
confident in the victory of good over evil..."