In the society of illusion, reality must manifest itself. The story songs of Joel Rafael are that manifestation... the essence of minstrel.

As human beings, we're given intelligence. This is how we make our way through this reality, how we manifest our reality clearly and coherently.

We’re not Indians and we’re not Native Americans. We’re older than both concepts. We’re the people, we’re the human beings.

I've gone through most of my life not believing anything. Either I know or I don't know, or I think.

I think it's the responsibility of every human being, not just those who wear the identity of poet, activist, voter, religious person... it's the responsibility of every person. Our responsibility is to use our intelligence as clearly and coherently as we possibly can.

I'm just a human being trying to make it in a world that is very rapidly losing it's understanding of being human.

I think that if the political and social movement groups and organizations that operate in this country today had the same kind of energetic commitment that the medical marijuana people have, many things could change in this country.