I've always maintained that black people and women suffer from a presumption of incompetence. The burdens of proof are different. It just gets so tiresome. Carol Moseley Braun More Quotes by Carol Moseley Braun More Quotes From Carol Moseley Braun Defining myself, as opposed to being defined by others, is one of the most difficult challenges I face. Carol Moseley Braun being-yourself freedom inspiring There are those who would keep us slipping back into the darkness of division, into the snake pit of racial hatred, of racial antagonism and of support for symbols of the struggle to keep African-Americans in bondage. Carol Moseley Braun snakes struggle war Magic lies in challenging what seems impossible. Carol Moseley Braun magic challenges lying I am determined to try to rebuild and renew this country in ways that will build community and level the playing field. To me, that means making certain that the fight to preserve our civil liberties is waged, making certain the fight against discrimination is waged, making certain that women have opportunity in this country. Carol Moseley Braun fighting mean country The really important victory of the civil rights movement was that it made racism unpopular, whereas a generation ago at the turn of the last century, you had to embrace racism to get elected to anything. Carol Moseley Braun victory racism rights It's not impossible for a woman - a Black woman - to become President. Carol Moseley Braun black president impossible It's hard to be the first. It's almost as if I'm subject to a different level of inspection. Carol Moseley Braun levels different firsts It's time to take the 'Men Only' sign off the White House door. Carol Moseley Braun white doors men There are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, just permanent interests. Carol Moseley Braun interest permanent enemy The Islamic community today is faced with a new version of an old struggle. My late mother used to say it doesn't matter whether you came to this country on the Mayflower or on a slave ship, through Ellis Island or the Rio Grande. We're all in the same boat now. Carol Moseley Braun struggle mother country If I lose, I'm going to retire from politics, practice law, and wear bright leather pants. Carol Moseley Braun leather-pants practice law And frankly, being a woman I think gives me a slightly different take on a lot of the issues and on a lot of the solutions to the problems we face. Carol Moseley Braun issues giving thinking My parents were always philosophizing about how to bring about change. To me, people who didn't try to make the world a better place were strange. Carol Moseley Braun parent trying people Well, if you pick a fight with somebody that's smaller than you and you beat them, where's the honor in that? Carol Moseley Braun beats fighting honor I think the legacy of the civil rights movement is that now whites are more open to being represented by people of color or people who are women or, again, non-traditional candidates. Carol Moseley Braun color rights thinking I think it does suggest that the American people really do want to listen to somebody who actually has some solutions, some answers, and gives them some hope. Carol Moseley Braun giving people thinking I think Americans want to believe in this country again. Carol Moseley Braun believe country thinking I'm used to people not paying me a whole lot of attention and underestimating me and, frankly, for me a big challenge is to have people believe that I can be the president of the United States. Carol Moseley Braun challenges believe people I was the only person of color in the Senate, and my colleagues were Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms and Trent Lott. Carol Moseley Braun helm colleagues color New Zealand, by the way, where I was ambassador, has had two women prime ministers - one from either party. Carol Moseley Braun ambassadors party two
