The Black female is assaulted in her tender years by all those common forces of nature at the same time she is caught in the tripartite crossfire of masculine prejudice, white illogical hate and Black lack of power.

[Librarians] study their field with as much determination and as much delight as open-heart surgeons.

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

One of the wonderful things about Oprah: She teaches you to keep on stepping.

But still, like air, I'll rise

The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart.

I think a number of the leaders are, whether you like it or not, in the hip-hop generation. And when they understand enough, they'll do wonders. I count on them.