I am her friend, and her tongue is in my mouth. I can speak her sentiments for her, though Ethel Waters can do very well indeed in speaking for herself.

I am her friend, and her tongue is in my mouth. I can speak her sentiments for her, though Ethel Waters can do very well indeed in speaking for herself.

Those that don't got it, can't show it. Those that got it, can't hide it.

Every morning the world flung itself over and exposed the town to the sun.

Someone is always at my elbow reminding me that I am the granddaughter of slaves. It fails to register depression with me.

I maintain that I have been a Negro three times--a Negro baby, a Negro girl and a Negro woman. Still, if you have received no clear cut impression of what the Negro in America is like, then you are in the same place with me. There is no The Negro here. Our lives are so diversified, internal attitudes so varied, appearances and capabilities so different, that there is no possible classification so catholic that it will cover us all, except My people! My people!

I love myself when I am laughing. . . and then again when I am looking mean and impressive.