Most of the things that are asked of me as a representative black person, would suggest never are we equal Americans.

Tying the little folks with the older folks is a great and powerful tool to preserve and to protect the family and the individual.

I travel a lot. It used to be, when I would go to any country, I could guarantee that the first question would establish my name, and the fact that I've written Roots, and the third question, at least no later than the fourth question would not be a question, so much as a statement, something like, "We understand that in America white people do such and such bad things to black people."

If you need to know history, the real story of those before you, then you should go to the library and read newspaper clippings of someone like Muhammad Ali every day, then it might giver you some understanding of the man.

That's what happens with writing. Ingredients bubble and cook. Material becomes substance.

Racism and hatred are synonymous.

History is written by winners.