I'm not alone, I'm free. I no longer have to be a credit, I don't have to be a symbol to anybody; I don't have to be a first to anybody.

After I got over the terrible pain of having something of mine taken from me, I began to think how bad everybody else must be feeling. It wasn't a nice time.

It's ill-becoming for an old broad to sing about how bad she wants it. But occasionally we do.

You have to be taught to be second class; you're not born that way.

I was lucky, as many of my generation was, in having a man like Dr. King in our lives. He came at a time that we needed to take a long look at each other and see how similar we were.

I found out along the way that they like you a little imperfect.

I'm still learning, you know. At 80, I feel there is a lot I don't know.