Writing saved me from the sin and inconvenience of violence - as it saves most writers who live in 'interesting' oppressive times and are not afflicted by personal immunity.

Women have to summon courage to fulfill dormant dreams.

The Animals of the planet are in desperate peril and they are fully aware of this. No less than human beings are doing in all parts of the world, they are seeking sanctuary.

In my work and in myself I reflect black people, women and men, as I reflect others. One day even the most self-protective ones will look into the mirror I provide and not be afraid.

No song or poem will bear my mother's name. Yet so many of the stories that I write, that we all write, are my mother's stories.

Well, capitalism is a big problem, because with capitalism you're just going to keep buying and selling things until there's nothing else to buy and sell, which means gobbling up the planet.

People tend to think that life really does progress for everyone eventually, that people progress, but actually only some people progress. The rest of the people don't.