There are only one or two geniuses every century.

You cannot be responsible for Jim Crow. You can not be responsible for racism. This is much more a problem for the person exercising racism.You are confronted with the reality of racism when you go in the streets, when the eyes of others come upon you. [James] Baldwin goes back with you to all the experiences you went through and gives a name to them, and explains why it is like this.

The role James Baldwin played in my life is incommensurable as stated above. He helped, along with a few others, to shape the man that I am today. My debt to him is invaluable.

I felt that the world, and in particular this country, were going in circles. What had happened 40 or 50 years ago was happening again, but even in a worse form - that we were sinking into a lot of ignorance and a lot of superficial change.

Your tweet is as important as if you would have written a Ph.D. [dissertation] on the subject.

[James] Baldwin explained that you have your own history, and that you cannot be responsible, for example, for slavery.

Today, I don't even think that people like [James Baldwin] are possible. He would not have that much room.