But it was not the room’s disorder which was frightening; it was the fact that when one began searching for the key to this disorder, one realized that it was not to be found in any of the usual places. For this was not a matter of habit or circumstance or temperament; it was a matter of punishment and grief.

The American idea of racial progress is measured by how fast I become white.

Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor.

For these are all our children, we will all profit by or pay for whatthey become.

Artists are here to disturb the peace.

To be born in a free society and not to be born free is to be born into a lie. To be told by co-citizens and co-Christians that you have no value, no history, have never done anything that is worthy of human respect destroys you because in the beginning you believe it.

An identity would seem to be arrived at by the way in which the person faces and uses his experience.