I'm considered wise, and sometimes I see myself as knowing. Most of the time, I see myself as wanting to know. And I see myself as a very interested person. I've never been bored in my life.

All of my history as an African-American woman, as a Jewish woman, as a Muslim woman. I'm bringing everything I ever knew, and all the stories I've read - everything good, strong, kind and powerful. I bring it all with me into every situation, and I will not allow my life to be minimized by anybody's racism or sexism or ageism.

Take the blinders from your vision take the padding from your ears and confess you've heard me crying and admit you've seen my tears.

Its not where your dreams take you, its where you take your dreams.

I am overwhelmed by the grace and persistence of my people.

There's something beautiful about the fact that Obama was not just elected, but elected decisively across racial, and socio-economic and cultural groups and that we all celebrated in his win.

Never, never let a person know you're frightened. And a group of them ... absolutely never. Fear brings out the worst in everybody.