The Artist Must Elect To Fight For

I Feel Closer To My Country Than Ever. There Is No Longer A Feeling Of Lonesome Isolation. Instead-peace. I Return Without Fearing Prejudice That Once Bothered Me . . . For I Know That People Practice Cruel Bigotry In Their Ignorance, Not Maliciously

Why Should The Negroes Ever Fight Against The Only Nations Of The World Where Racial Discrimination Is Prohibited, And Where The People Can Live Freely? Never! I Can Assure You, They Will Never Fight Against Either The Soviet Union Or The Peoples' Democracies.

Through My Singing And Acting And Speaking, I Want To Make Freedom Ring. Maybe I Can Touch People's Hearts Better Than I Can Their Minds, With The Common Struggle Of The Common Man.

The Artist Must Elect To Fight For Freedom Or For Slavery.

I Am Truly Happy That I Am Able To Travel From Time To Time To The Ussr The Country I Love Above All. I Always Have Been, I Am Now And Will Always Be A Loyal Friend Of The Soviet Union.