Parents can ruin children, and sometimes that's a learned behavior. Sometimes you can't blame your parents for it, sometimes you can. I think to me, that's what the whole paradox is, is people that have children that don't even know how to raise them.

Why is it that if you happen to be black and over six feet tall, everybody thinks you supposed to play basketball or football?

I just believe that young people need to be able to learn how to write in their own voice. Just like a musician, you pride yourself on having your own distinct sound.

You know, one of my fears about living alone so long is that you get used to doing everything your own way.

Writing is the only place I can be myself and not feel judged.

As a writer, you get to bring attention to something without preaching. I don't believe in being didactic. So if you dramatize something, you automatically bring attention to it if people read it.

I don't trust white critics' judgment about most things that deal with black life, particularly when a black person is the creator.