Racism is so extreme and so pervasive in our American society that no black individual lives in an atmosphere of freedom.

The Word of fire burns today On the lips of our prophets in an evil age.

My grandmothers are full of memories, smelling of soap and onions and wet clay, with veins rolling roughly over quick hands, they have many clean words to say, my grandmothers were strong.

I do not believe that hating any man solves the problem of race or any other problem. ... I firmly believe that hatred, like anger, works on the physical glandular system as well as on the moral fiber of our nation, and in doing so, can bring no positive good.

Only ways you can keep folks hating is to keep them apart and separated from each other.

I want my careless song to strike no minor key; no fiend to stand between my body's Southern song - the fusion of the South, my body's song and me.

Racism is so extreme and so pervasive in our American society that no black individual lives in an atmosphere of freedom.