Quotes by Michael Franti

About Michael Franti:

Michael Franti is an American rapper, musician, poet, and singer-songwriter. He is the creator and lead vocalist of Michael Franti & Spearhead, a band that blends hip hop with a variety of other styles including funk, reggae, jazz, folk, and rock. He is also an outspoken supporter for a wide spectrum of peace and social justice issues.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

My parents said sticks and stones will break your bones but names will never hurt you. But I always felt a sense of exhilaration after a fight; it was the names that really hurt me.

Michael Franti

My mother birthed three children and she adopted myself and another African-American son. My adoptive parents were Finnish. I grew up in a white picket neighborhood.

Michael Franti

I really believe that, as an artist, my opportunity to help to bring about awakening is one that should come from a personal process that someone has, and not from me telling somebody that this is the way it is.

Michael Franti

Our country was founded on immigration. We are all occupying Native American land here. At what point do we say 'It's our land, and nobody else can come here.'

Michael Franti

You learn a lot when you're barefoot. The first thing is every step you take is different.

Michael Franti

When someone can't afford to wear shoes, it's not just about them not having shoes on that day. It's about a cycle of poverty that exists within their community.

Michael Franti

When I first started out, I thought it was enough to make an angry song that pointed out the problems of the world.

Michael Franti

In the '80s, Ronald Reagan inspired me to become politicized, because I grew up in that era when everything I cared about was under attack.

Michael Franti

I'm a news junkie who's constantly reading newspapers and magazines. I look around and see what's happening in the world.

Michael Franti

It's a really personal thing for me to write a song.

Michael Franti

There are so many things to be worried about, and I wanted to make a record that people could put on, and it would lift them up the way the sun did for me each day.

Michael Franti

You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace. Power to the peaceful.

Michael Franti

I don't know if music can change the world overnight but I know that music can help someone make it through a difficult night.

Michael Franti

During my travels in Iraq, Israel, Gaza, Brazil, Indonesia, Japan, Europe and all over the United States, I have seen and heard the voices of people who want change. They want the stabilization of the economy, education and healthcare for all, renewa...

Michael Franti

If we do not change our negative habits toward climate change, we can count on worldwide disruptions in food production, resulting in mass migration, refugee crises and increased conflict over scarce natural resources like water and farm land. This i...

Michael Franti

Music is sunshine. Like sunshine, music is a powerful force that can instantly and almost chemically change your entire mood. Music gives us new energy and a stronger sense of purpose.

Michael Franti

Like sunshine, music is a powerful force that can instantly and almost chemically change your entire mood.

Michael Franti

Investing now in safe-guarding people by helping them to adapt to climate change, will help save money and lives while building resilience.

Michael Franti

The U.S. has historically been the world's largest contributor to climate change.

Michael Franti

We would play songs live on stage, and then we'd watch their reaction we were receiving immediately, if people were dancing and singing along. If they weren't, then we'd go into the dressing rooms of the different NBA teams that we were playing in th...

Michael Franti

I don't know if it's so grand that I can change the entire world, but I know that I can help one person. So that's the goal.

Michael Franti

Author Bio

  • NameMichael Franti
  • DescriptionAmerican rapper
  • BornApril 21, 1966
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionSinger