Twenty-five years is a long time for a girl to live out of a trunk, and after looking over a few houses, I fell in love with one in Southwest Los Angeles.

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

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

I could depend a lot on my shaking, though I never shimmied vulgarly and only to express myself.

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

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

What broke Mom's heart was realizing that her children knew nothing and cared nothing about the better side of life.