First it is necessary to stand on your own two feet. But the minute a man finds himself in that position, the next thing he should do is reach out his arms.

I hate, loathe, and despise Christmas. It's a time when single people have to take cover or get out of town.

The boys think they can all be athletes, and the girls think they can all be singers. That's the way to fame and success. ...as a group blacks must give up their illusions.

Writing is harder than anything else; at least starting to write is.

I don't see black people as victims even though we are exploited. Victims are flat, one- dimensional characters, someone rolled over by a steamroller so you have a cardboard person. We are far more resilient and more rounded than that. I will go on showing there's more to us than our being victimized. Victims are dead.

Everyone of us is a wonder. Everyone of us has a story.

The most amazing thing about little children ... was their fantastic adaptability.