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

Always be smarter than the people who hire you.

A little nepotism never hurt nobody, honey. If you got it, use it. Press on with it. Remind them of it.

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

I learned from Ethel Waters, Duke Ellington, Adelaide Hall, the Nicholas Brothers, the whole thing, the whole schmear. [The Cotton Club] was a great place because it hired us, for one thing, at a time when it was really rough [for Black performers].

I really do hate to sing.

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