Why should blacks feel elated about seeing men walk on the moon when millions of poor blacks and whites don’t have enough money to buy food to eat on earth? — Marion Barry

I am clearly more popular than Reagan. I am in my third term. Where’s Reagan? Gone after two! Defeated by George Bush and Michael Dukakis no less. — Marion Barry

If you take out the killings, Washington actually has a very low crime rate. — Marion Barry

White folks may let you in their country clubs to play golf, invite you out to dinner, take you out to play tennis, but when it comes to dividing up the money, that’s a whole ‘nother story. — Marion Barry

In Washington, I have worked hard for the people, and I’ve been loved by the people. — Marion Barry

I promise you a police car on every sidewalk. — Marion Barry

Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country. — Marion Barry

We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up business and dirty shops. They ought to go. — Marion Barry

When you know more, you can do more. — Marion Barry

This is not a sham, not a game. This is the real stuff. — Marion Barry

There are two kinds of truth. There are real truths, and there are made up truths. — Marion Barry

Washington, D.C., had never seen my style of politics. — Marion Barry

The laws in this city are clearly racist. All laws are racist. The law of gravity is racist. — Marion Barry

My greatest work comes in the community. — Marion Barry

Everybody in life has something that they get knocked down on. The object lesson here is not that you get knocked down–it is that you get up. — Marion Barry

Our neighbors in Virginia are just as responsible for these killings as the criminals are because they won’t pass strong gun [control] legislation. — Marion Barry

I am making this trip to Africa because Washington is an international city, just like Tokyo, Nigeria or Israel. As mayor, I am an international symbol. Can you deny that to Africa? — Marion Barry

There is a sort of an unwritten code in Washington, among the underworld and the hustlers and these other guys that I am their friend. — Marion Barry

I am a great mayor; I am an upstanding Christian man; I am an intelligent man; I am a deeply educated man; I am a humble man. — Marion Barry

People blame me because these water mains break, but I ask you, if the water mains didn’t break, would it be my responsibility to fix them then? WOULD IT!?! — Marion Barry

I love serving people. I love helping people empower themselves. — Marion Barry

What dragged me down was not being mayor–it was insecurity, the need to be accepted by everyone, the pleasure syndrome. That’s what brought me down. — Marion Barry

Who can better help our city recover than someone who himself has gone through recovery? — Marion Barry

The contagious people of Washington have stood firm against diversity during this long period of increment weather. — Marion Barry

Jesse ain’t running nothin’ but his mouth. — Marion Barry

The brave men who died in Vietnam, more than 100% of which were black, were the ultimate sacrifice. — Marion Barry

What right does Congress have to go around making laws just because they deem it necessary? — Marion Barry

Love is very fleeting with me. I don’t know why. — Marion Barry