Every day I awaken I am grateful. My intent is to be totally present in that day. And laugh as much as possible.

Try, start always at home. This is my encouragement to all writers, start at home. All virtues and vices begin at home, and then spread abroad.

There is a kind of strength that is almost frightening in Black women. It's as if a steel rod runs right through the head down to the feet.

I have forgiven myself; I'll make a change. Once that forgiveness has taken place you can console yourself with the knowledge that a diamond is the result of extreme pressure. Less pressure is crystal, less than that is coal, less than that is fossilized leaves or plain dirt. Pressure can change you into something quite precious, quite wonderful, quote beautiful and extremely hard.

You forgive yourself for every failure because you are trying to do the right thing. God knows that and you know it. Nobody else may know it.

I wrote some of the worst poetry west from the Mississippi River, but I wrote. And I finally sometimes got it right.

I'm grateful to be of use. I will not be misused or abused, but I will be of use to anybody.