Black people comprehend the South. We understand its weight. It has rested on our backs... I knew that my heart would break if ever I put my foot down on that soil, moist, still, with old hurts. I had to face the fear/loathing at its source or it would consume me whole.

I admire people who dare to take the language, English, and understand it and understand the melody.

You can't forgive without loving. And I don't mean sentimentality. I don't mean mush. I mean having enough courage to stand up and say, 'I forgive. I'm finished with it.'

The most called-upon prerequisite of a friend is an accessible ear.

Just as hope rings through laughter, it can also shine through tears.

The music was my friend, my lover, my family.

Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.