I spent 30 minutes each morning rubbing my body with half a lemon to lighten my skin.

Sex was a pleasurable form of exercise, like dancing.

You must get an education. You must go to school, and you must learn to protect yourself. And you must learn to protect yourself with the pen, and not the gun.

I love performing. I shall perform until the day I die.

The hate directed against the colored people here in St. Louis has always given me a sad feeling... How can you expect the world to believe in you and respect your preaching of democracy when you yourself treat your colored brothers as you do?

I did take the blows [of life], but I took them with my chin up, in dignity, because I so profoundly love and respect humanity.

I wasn't really naked. I simply didn't have any clothes on.