The things we truly love stay with us always, locked in our hearts as long as life remains.

I'm not intimidated by anyone. Everyone is made with two arms, two legs, a stomach and a head. Just think about that.

Is that what they call a vocation, what you do with joy as if you had fire in your heart, the devil in your body?

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

I ran away from St. Louis, and then I ran away from the United States, because of that terror of discrimination.

My people have a country of their own to go to if they choose... Africa... but, this America belongs to them just as much as it does to any of the white race... in some ways even more so, because they gave the sweat of their brow and their blood in slavery so that many parts of America could become prosperous and recognized in the world.

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