I've never been able to feel that there is anything undignified about making your living by the sweat of your brow.

Though I was excited about the Sojourner Truth play, it was not reassuring to think that my entire future might depend on the success of that one show.

When you dominate other people's emotions, the time has to come when you will have to pay, and heavily, for that privilege.

I never felt I belonged. I was always an outsider.

I learned early in life not to judge others. We outcasts are very happy and content to leave that job to our social superiors.

It has been an ache and a joy both to look over this big shoulder of mine at all my yesterdays.

I was born out of wedlock. Nobody brought me up.