I'm me, and I'm like nobody else.

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

I thought of singing and acting as a living-making. I was able to take care of myself and a few of my friends.

Every color I can think of and nationality, we were all touched by Dr. King because he made us like each other and respect each other.

Malcolm X raised my consciousness about myself and my people and other people more than any person I know. I knew him before he became Malcolm X.

I want to sing like Aretha Franklin. Before her I wanted the technical ability of Ella Fitzgerald.

Nobody black or white who really believes in democracy can stand aside now; everybody's got to stand up and be counted.