There is an incredible amount of magic and feistiness in black men that nobody has been able to wipe out. But everybody has tried.

I wish I’d a knowed more people. I would of loved ‘em all. If I’d a knowed more, I would a loved more

At some point in life, the world's beauty becomes enough.

They held hands and knew that only the coffin would lie in the earth; the bubbly laughter and the press of fingers in the palm would stay aboveground forever. At first, as they stood there, their hands were clenched together. They relaxed slowly until during the walk back home their fingers were laced in as gentle a clasp as that of any two young girlfriends trotting up the road on a summer day wondering what happened to butterflies in the winter.

I sang "O Holy Night" in a school choir. My mother came and listened to me and complimented me. So that was the high point. I cannot sing a note.

Schools must stop being holding pens to keep energetic young people off the job market and off the streets. We stretch puberty out a long, long time.

Unless carefree, mother love was a killer.