The artist's role is to raise the consciousness of the people. To make them understand life, the world and themselves more completely. That's how I see it. Otherwise, I don't know why you do it.

Art is a weapon in the struggle of ideas, the class struggle.

There is no depth to education without art.

A man is either free or he is not. There cannot be any apprenticeship for freedom.

If the flag of an armed enemy of the U.S. is allowed to fly over government buildings, then it implies that slavery, or at least the threat of slavery, is sanctioned by that government and can still legally exist.

James Brown and Frank Sinatra are two different quantities in the universe. They represent two different experiences of the world.

When I die, the consciousness I carry I will to black people. May they pick me apart and take the useful parts, the sweet meat of my feelings. And leave the bitter bullshit rotten white parts alone.