My mother's great. She has the major looks. She could stop you from doing anything, through a closed door even, with a single look. Without saying a word, she has that power to rip out your tonsils.

The Africans know I'm not an African. I'm an American.

[On writing to Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple:] I told her I would play a Venetian blind, dirt on the floor, anything.

You have to believe in yourself in spite of what other people believe.

We're here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark.

In the dark times, if you have something to hold on to, which is yourself, you'll survive.

If you don't look out for others, who will look out for you?