Beginning writers must appreciate the prerequisites if they hope to become writers. You pay your dues - which takes years.

I think one of the most fascinating things you can do after you learn about your own people is to study something about the history and culture of other people.

My fondest hope is that 'Roots' may start black, white, brown, red, yellow people digging back for their own roots. Man, that would make me feel 90 feet tall.

There was a great deal of inbreeding between the Indians and the slaves. Genetically speaking, black people are some part black, some part European.

The way to succeed is never quit. That's it. But really be humble about it. ... You start out lowly and humble and you carefully try to learn an accretion of little things that help you get there.

The anti-blackness has generated new forms of youth involvement in anti-whiteness, which in some cases is appalling.

Most of us prefer to be as quiet as possible about giving, because every time it's publicized that we do something, if it's something of the nature of giving, we'll be doubly besieged, and you really get sick of being always criticized no matter what you do.