New York is only 97 miles from Philadelphia but was the Big Time as no other American city has ever been.

Only those who are being burned know what fire is like.

I never posed as a saint. I would have slept with a man for nothing if I liked him well enough.

There was one emotional outlet my people always had when they had the blues. That was singing.

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

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

We never had a bathtub. Mom would bathe me in the wooden or tin washtub in the kitchen, or in a big lard can.