Gil Scott-Heron quotes

Gil Scott-Heron was an American poet, musician, and author, celebrated as a pioneer of spoken word and socially conscious music. His work blended jazz, soul, and poetry to address themes of social justice, activism, and African American identity. He is remembered as a profound influence on hip-hop and modern protest music. Here are 29 of his quotes:

Colour is not the issue in America; class is.

Gil Scott-Heron

The revolution will not be televised.

Gil Scott-Heron

I was a better writer when I was teaching. I was constantly going over the basics and constantly reminding myself, as I reminded my students, what made a good story, a good poem.

Gil Scott-Heron

If someone comes to you and asks for help, and you can help them, you're supposed to help them. Why wouldn't you? You have been put in the position somehow to be able to help this person.

Gil Scott-Heron

You know what has made me the happiest I've ever been? Seeing my son and daughter graduate from college. More than wanting them to be educated, I wanted them to be nice people. To see that they have become both is just a wonderful thing.

Gil Scott-Heron

Music has the power to make me feel good like nothing else does. It gives me some peace for a while. Takes me back to who I really am.

Gil Scott-Heron

The revolution that takes place in your head, nobody will ever see that.

Gil Scott-Heron

Everything that's bad for you catches on too quickly in America, because that's the easiest thing to get people to invest in, the pursuits that are easy and destructive, the ones that bring out the least positive aspects of people.

Gil Scott-Heron

Our accomplishments show what kind of people we are.

Gil Scott-Heron

Womenfolk raised me and I was full-grown before I knew I came from a broken home.

Gil Scott-Heron

I am honestly not sure how capable I am of love. And I'm not sure why.

Gil Scott-Heron

My songs were always about the tone of voice rather than the words.

Gil Scott-Heron

As for money - when I have it, it's great. When I don't, I go get some. I've been a dishwasher, a gardener, a cleaner.

Gil Scott-Heron

You should be able to do anything you can afford as an adult.

Gil Scott-Heron

I tour more than I need to, more than is good for you. But it's my favorite part of music. I much prefer it to studio work.

Gil Scott-Heron

Schedule? I have no schedule. There is no hurry. I work when I want to.

Gil Scott-Heron

I was a piano player before I was a poet.

Gil Scott-Heron

I learnt early on that your audience take the songs in the way they want to rather than the way you might want them too.

Gil Scott-Heron

I was born in Chicago, but I was raised in a town called Jackson, Tennessee. And a lot of these changes that were necessary and talked about it as important have been made, like, people go to school where they want to go. They work for equal pay, they work for - they can go school and have an equal shot at a job.

Gil Scott-Heron

I was one of the first three black students to go to an all-white school in Tennessee.

Gil Scott-Heron

You will not be able to stay home, brother. You will not be able to plug in, turn on, and cop out.

Gil Scott-Heron

The revolution will not be brought to you by Xerox.

Gil Scott-Heron