A lot of people refuse to do things because they don't want to go naked... . We as black people, we as people, we as the human species have got to get used to the fact we're not going to be right most of the time, not even when our intentions are good. We've got to go naked and see what happens.

Poetry is the most mistaught subject in any school because we teach poetry by form and not by content.

For most of my life, I've thought of myself as pretty cool.

I’ve not learned the acceptable way of saying you fascinate me...I’ve not even learned how to say I like you without frightening people away-

The future is in good hands.

The unwillingness to try is worse than any failure.

I try to impress upon my students the importance of looking, listening... paying attention, in other words. You must pay attention.