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

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

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

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

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

We show girls were forced to live in whorehouses in each town, no other accommodations being available.

The greatest acts in colored show business had long made Harlem their home and favorite stamping ground.