Art is the only thing you cannot punch a button for. You must do it the old-fashioned way. Stay up and really burn the midnight oil. There are no compromises.

Be black, shine, aim high.

The way I was taught, being black was a plus, always. Being a human being, being in America, and being black, all three were the greatest things that could happen to you. The combination was unbeatable.

Art is the only thing you cannot punch a button for. You must do it the old-fashioned way. Stay up and really burn the midnight oil. There are no compromises.

A healthy sex life. Best thing in the world for a woman's voice.

If I do have some success, I'd like to enjoy it, for heaven's sake! What is the point of having it otherwise?

You should always know when you're shifting gears in life. You should leave your era - it should never leave you.