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.

In law school they teach you that everything is a contract; well, in poetry everything is a narrative.

You must be unintimidated by your own thoughts.

Poetry and music are very good friends. Like mommies and daddies and strawberries and cream - they go together.

I have not tried to tell the people anything. I have shared my views with the people but I have not tried to lead or correct them, assuming they need correction.

Black love is Black wealth and they'll probably talk about my hard childhood and never understand that all the while I was quite happy

We are better than we think and not yet what we want to be.