People say to write about what you know. I'm here to tell you, no one wants to read that, cos you don't know anything. So write about something you don't know. And don't be scared, ever.

I know that my books are worthy, which is separate from me.

Black boys became criminalized. I was in constant dread for their lives, because they were targets everywhere. They still are.

What's the world for you if you can't make it up the way you want it?

Please don't settle for happiness. It's not good enough. Of course you deserve it, but if that's all you have in mind - happiness - I want to suggest to you that personal success devoid of meaningfulness, free of a steady commitment to social justice - that's more than a barren life. It's a trivial one.

Clever, but schoolteacher beat him anyway to show him that definitions belonged to the definers - not the defined.

I get angry about things, then go on and work.