I try to swim every damn day I can, and I've learned to scuba dive and snorkel.

We have ordered things so long in a certain way, we are numb. Nobody dares question it. This is what is wrong, symbolically, with America.

I'm sorry that I did not become the world's first black classic pianist. I think I would have been happier.

I do not believe in mixing of the races. You can quote me. I don't believe in it, and I never have. I've never changed. I've never changed my hair. I've never changed my color, I have always been proud of myself, and my fans are proud of me for remaining the way I've always been. I married a white man one time, but he was a creep

I think if I were over there in America, protest music would be more important. But I'm not going.

My name sounds French but that's just a stage name.

I know I'm different, but I don't think about it.