1 / 10

Lena Horne - “I'm not alone, I'm free. I no longer have to be a credit, I don't have to be a symbol to anybody; I don't have to be a first to anybody.”(Photo: Evelyn Straus/New York Daily News Archive/Getty Images)

2 / 10

Nate Parker - “I want young people to ask me if I'm serious. Our young people have been lied to and misled for so long. When I stand on this soapbox, I want young people to ask me that because once they know I'm serious, they'll be willing to ride with me.”(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for DGA)

3 / 10

Jesse Williams - “Dedicating our lives to getting money  just to give it right back for someone’s brand on our body — when we spent centuries praying with brands on our bodies — and now we pray to get paid for brands on our bodies?”(Photo: Kevin Winter/BET/Getty Images for BET)

Photo By Photo: Kevin Winter/BET/Getty Images for BET

4 / 10

Kerry Washington - “Today there are people trying to take away rights that our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers fought for: our right to vote, our right to choose, affordable quality education, equal pay, access to health care. We the people can't let that happen.”(Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the DAILY FRONT ROW)

5 / 10

Harry Belafonte - “You can cage the singer but not the song.” (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Bing)

Photo By Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Bing

6 / 10

Jada Pinkett-Smith - “I don't get afraid in talking about subject matter that may spark controversy, and I'm not afraid to not be liked. I think that sometimes people pay too much attention to being liked, and it's paralyzing.”(Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz)

7 / 10

Keke Palmer - “We need to stop separating ourselves by how dark or how light we are.”(Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

8 / 10

Lupita Nyong'o - “I feel privileged that people are looking up to me, and perhaps a dream will be born because of my presence.” (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for FIJI Water)

9 / 10

Amandla Stenberg - “End the angry black girl narrative. It's just another attempt to undermine certain perspectives. I have strong opinions. I am not angry.”(Photo: Brad Barket/BET/Getty Images for BET)

10 / 10

Will Smith - “Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too.”(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)