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

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!

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.

music became my refuge and then my salvation.

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.

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.