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

We obviously need the truth. We're living in a country of lies.

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

Daddy says the world is a drum tight and hard and I told him I'm gonna beat out my own rhythm.

It is not who you attend school with but who controls the school you attend.

If you were a pure bolt of fire-cutting the skies I'd touch you-risking my life-not because I'm brave or strong, but because I'm fascinated by what the outcome would be.

I am of the generation of segregation. Black Lives Matter is post. I said today, and I will say all the time, "If Nina [Simone] were here, she'd have her Black Lives Matter [T-shirt] on." I think they're great kids. They don't need me or anybody else to tell them what to do.