`` whatever kind of african-american you are , rich or poor , whether you a doctor or a homeboy , whether you clever or dim , whether you a telephone operator or somebody scrubs floors on her hands and knees the way my mama done when i was coming along in mississippi , i know in my heart and in my soul that there is not a single one of you out there tonight - black or white - who is not appalled by what happened to that man while he was in custody and entitled to protection ! ''