“As a people we had no money, we had no political influence, but when we came together, we had all of those things, plus the single largest group of Black leaders state-holdings in America. "

"Zion was a ...symbol of black power and authority.”

"It was the influence of the church and the powerful preachers ...that made me think just maybe we make a difference."

"The progress of African Americans leads back to the Black Church, and specifically the leadership of the Black Baptist Church."

"But the future I think is extremely bright.  Because when you try everything else, you come back to the only thing that ever really worked -- and that’s the church."