When younger, I thought one of the particulars of being "Homo sapiens" was to communicate. I have not learned not to, though I am cautious when I try.

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.

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.

I prefer her [Nina Simone's] jazz period much more so than her folk period.

Photographers direct the eye toward a particular object. We who write, one hopes, are directing the heart and the soul.

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?

We are strong enough to stand tall tearlessly, we are brave enough to bend to cry, and we are sad enough to know that we must laugh again.