When kids don't learn about their own heritage in school, they just don't care about school... But you won't see it in the history books unless we get the power to write our own history and tell our story ourselves.

It's always been a gift with me, hearing music the way I do. I don't know where it comes from, it's just there and I don't question it.

I'm not messing around with nobody's woman. If I want a woman I go get her - you know what I mean?

...people will go for anything they don't understand if it's got enough hype. They want to be hip, want always to be in on the new thing so they don't look unhip. White people are especially like that, particularly when a black person is doing something they don't understand...That's what I thought was happening when Ornette hit town.

I mean, it makes me sick when I see a white man sitting there smiling at me being entertaining, man. When I know what he's gonna do after he gets through. You know, when you see that thing on their face - like: "Entertain me." You know what I mean? Even the black guy that's trying to be white - even he can have that crap on his face.

White folks always think that you have to have a label on everything - you know what I mean?

If you hit a wrong note, it's the next note that you play that determines if it's good or bad.