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

Nina Simone's music is incredibly honest. That's like saying, "Why does Jesus' word still stay around?" It's incredibly honest and it's good.

You must invent your own games and teach us old ones how to play.

Follow your image as far as you can no matter how useless you think it is. Push yourself.

Nothing improves your writing, I think, as much as your keeping writing.

We black women are the single group in the West intact. And anybody can see we're pretty shaky. We are, however (all praises), the only group that derives its identity from itself.

War is not a jobs program.