I want to be clear about this. If you wrote from experience, you'd get maybe one book, maybe three poems. Writers write from empathy.

Just as nature abhors a vacuum, humans resist change. Change will occur; vacuums will be filled.

We are less lonely when we connect. Art is connection.

If you are sitting there waiting for someone to tell you how wonderful you are, you'll never get anything done. Women need to get over being women. I'm tired of that socialization of women; that we are always supposed to be sitting around pleasing somebody.

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.

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

I am proud of the hip hop generation. They are good business people and, actually, good people.