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Having slaves for ancestors is not something to be ashamed of; one should be proud to know that one's ancestors were strong enough to live through the horrors of slavery, strong because of the rich and beautiful history of Africa. We are taught that Africans were savages, and this makes us non-consciously ashamed of our past.

— Denise Oliver-Velez Through the Eyes of Rebel Women: The Young Lords 1969-1976 by Iris Morales (2016)

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More quotes by Denise Oliver-Velez

We are fighting against an enemy, the Yankee, and the Puerto Rican lombrices. The one major thing that holds us back in our fight to liberate Puerto Rico and all oppressed people is a lack of unity.

Through the Eyes of Rebel Women: The Young Lords 1969-1976 by Iris Morales (2016)

The machismo is so strong that there are almost no sisters in the leadership of the independence movement. Where are the Lolita Lebrons, the [[Blanca Canalas]'s, the Viscals?

Yanquis Own Puerto Rico (1970)

Our people are beautiful, Puerto Rican people have a revolutionary history, Puerto Rico is beautiful.

Yanquis Own Puerto Rico (1970)

We should be proud of our Afro-Indio culture. We must fight against racism because it is a tool used to divide us.

Yanquis Own Puerto Rico (1970)

all of our people are prostitutes for the American capitalists.

Yanquis Own Puerto Rico (1970)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Denise Oliver-Velez (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.