I never accepted the idea that I was all through. I guess no person who has once been a star can do that, ever.

If I wanted pity, I got it because I'm illegitimate. And when I didn't want it I was mean and nasty.

There is a certain type of white Southerner who respects certain Negro individuals.

I never accepted the idea that I was all through. I guess no person who has once been a star can do that, ever.

If whites bored me, it was because they bored themselves. They seemed to get little fun out of life and were desperately lonely.

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

My whole family could sing. My family harmonized without any instruments to accompany them.