Raising Black children — female and male — in the mouth of a racist, sexist, suicidal dragon is perilous and chancy. If they cannot love and resist at the same time, they will probably not survive. And in order to survive they must let go. This is what mothers teach — love, survival — that is, self-definition and letting go.

When I hear the deepest truths I speak coming out of my mouth sounding like my mother's, even remembering how I fought against her, I have to reassess both our relationship as well as the sources of my knowing.

Hatred is a death wish for the hated, not a life wish for anything else.

Anger is loaded with information and energy.

Out of my flesh that hungers and my mouth that knows comes the shape I am seeking for reason.

I have died too many deaths that were not mine.

You cannot use someone else's fire. You can only use your own. And in order to do that, you must first be willing to believe that you have it.