The first light of human consciousness and the world's first civilizations were in Africa.

When I was able to go to school in my early years, my third grade teacher, Ms. Harris, convinced me that one day I would be a writer. I heard her, but I knew that I had to leave Georgia, and unlike my friend Ray Charles, I did not go around with 'Georgia on My Mind.'

I attended a Baptist church as a child and was an avid reader starting with the Bible.

Malcolm X found the language that communicated across the board, from college professor to floor sweeper, all at the same time, without demeaning the intellect of either.

In a matrilineal society, a woman has basic rights that no one has to grant her but you can't take it away from her because the society is based on the concept that the lifegiver is equal to those she gave the life to. And that will remain... until you find a pregnant man.

We're in a world of propaganda. Some of it is all to effective.

I could pull all kinds of games on my mother. I couldn't pull any games on my father.