Anytime you see a turtle up on top of a fence post, you know he had some help.

I can't feel Irish to save my soul, but it's a fact.

In all of us there is a hunger, marrow-deep, to know our heritage, to know who we are and where we came from.

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

I don't know anywhere in the world where there is not racism against somebody.

Either you deal with what is the reality, or you can be sure that the reality is going to deal with you.

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