As far as I knew white women were never lonely, except in books. White men adored them, Black men desired them and Black women worked for them.

I'm a serious aficionada of country music - Reba McEntire, Toby Keith, Montgomery Gentry. I've even written some songs. They haven't done anything of mine yet. But it's only a matter of time.

If you're a human being, you can attempt to do what other human beings have done. We don't understand talent any more than we understand electricity.

I'm convinced that I'm a child of God. That's wonderful, exhilarating, liberating, full of promise. But the burden which goes along with that is, I'm convinced that everybody is a child of God. . . . I weep a lot. I thank God I laugh a lot, too. The main thing in one's own private world is to try to laugh as much as you cry.

If I'm going to a new country, I try to learn something about the language and the culture, so I don't just go bumbling over things.

When I say 'I am a Christian', I'm not shouting 'I'm saved'. I'm whispering 'I get lost'. That is why I chose this way.

Through the centuries, we faced down death by daring to hope.