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

The best thing about living... Is the chance to keep on doing it!

You have to be taught to be second class; you're not born that way. But the slanting process is so subtle that you frequently don't realize how you're being slanted until very late in the game.

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 had my schooling right there in the Cotton Club.

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