Malcolm X raised my consciousness about myself and my people and other people more than any person I know. I knew him before he became Malcolm X.

Due to the Red Scare and her left-leaning political views Horne found herself blacklisted and unable to get work in Hollywood. Returning to her roots as a nightclub performer Horne took part in the March on Washington in August 1963 and continued to work as a performer both in nightclubs and on television while releasing well-received record albums.