I believe in the American theatre. I believe in its power to inform about the human condition, its power to heal ... its power to uncover the truths we wrestle from uncertain and sometimes unyielding realities.

I write for myself and my goal is bringing that world and that experience of black Americans to life on the stage and giving it a space there.

I don't write for a particular audience.

What comes forth from you as an artist cannot be controlled. But you have responsibilities as a global citizen. Your history dictates your duty. And by writing about black people, you are not limiting yourself. The experiences of African-Americans are as wide open as God's closet.

My greatest influence has been the blues. And that's a literary influence, because I think the blues is the best literature that we as black Americans have.

Style ain't nothing but keeping the same idea from beginning to end. Everybody got it.

Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength.