One of the great difficulties about being a member of a minority race is that so many kindhearted, well-meaning bores gather around to help.

I've been scared and battered. My hopes the wind done scattered. Snow has friz me, Sun has baked me, Looks like between 'em they done Tried to make me Stop laughin', stop lovin', stop livin'-- But I don't care! I'm still here!

Oh, God of Dust and Rainbows, Help us to see That without the dust the rainbow Would not be.

Go home and write / a page tonight. / And let that page come out of you - / Then, it will be true.

When a man starts out to build a world, He starts first with himself

I will not take 'but' for an answer. Negroes have been looking at democracy's 'but' too long.

Life is a system of half-truths and lies, Opportunistic, convenient evasion.