History is wonderful. We have so much we can learn if we would quit making ideology out of history, and just deal with what happened.

Poets can tell the truth as they see it. It’s the author’s story, the author’s voice.

Rage is to writers what water is to fish.

Sacred cows make very poor gladiators.

Most of my books are a two-year project. I tend to follow my heart and my mind and research materials where they take me.

I just think she was a wonderful woman. What I think of when I think of Nina [Simone] is someone that I could relate to, who didn't want anything from me, that could relate to me because I didn't want anything from her. It was nice.

What's the difference between dragging a black man behind a truck in Jasper, Texas, and beating a white boy to death in Wyoming because he's gay?