I want to give the evidence in a way that is convincing, but I don't want to cheat.

When I'm writing, I'm thinking, "Well, this might be a book that I'll always be happy with, and certainly readers will be happy with." But another part of me knows that when I'm past the stage of writing, the book is gonna have good things about it, bad things about it - probably more bad than good. I just know that. That's who I am.

Do not fall asleep in your enemy's dream.

I'm still vulnerable and still weak.

There are still horrible things that go on because of the myth of race, but we don't have to succumb totally.

That split is inside all Americans. There are contradictions inside all of us about color and race. We've learned to cover them up and live with them and pretend that deep cleavage is not there. We all bear that illness.

Even in my adult years, when I heard a white person speaking in a Southern accent I was initially suspicious.