I Do Not believe in the law of hate. I may not be true to my ideals always, but I believe in the law of love, and I believe you can do nothing with hatred. I would like to see a time when man loves his fellow man and forgets his colour or his creed. We will never be civilized until that time comes. I know the Negro race has a long road to go. I believe that the life of the Negro race has been a life of tragedy, of injustice, of oppression. The law has made him equal, but man has not. And after all, the last analysis is : what has man done? – And not what has the law done? I know there is a long road ahead of him before he can take the place which I believe he should take. I know that before him there is sorrow, tribulation and death among the blacks, and perhaps the whites, I’ am sorry. I would do what I could to avert it I would advise patience. I would advise tolerance; I would advise understanding; I would advise all those things which are necessary for men who live together. Gentlemen, what do you think of your duty in this case? I have watched day after day these black, tense faces, that have crowded this court. These black faces that now are looking to you twelve whites feeling that hopes and fears of a race are in your keeping. This case is about to end, gentlemen. To them it is life. Not one of their colours sits on this jury. Their fate is in the hands of twelve whites. Their eyes are fixed on you, their hearts go out to you, and their hopes hang on your verdict. This is all, I ask you, on behalf of this defendant, on behalf of these great state, and this great city, which must face this problem and face it fairly- I ask you in the name of progress and of the human race, to return a verdict of not guilty in this case!
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