You are responsible for the world that you live in.

All of art is a search for ways of being, of living life more fully.

For me, the original play becomes an historical document: This is where I was when I wrote it, and I have to move on now to something else.

My influences have been what I call my four Bs - the primary one being the blues, then Borges, Baraka, and Bearden.

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.

I been with strangers all day and they treated me like family. I come in here to family and you treat me like a stranger.

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