"My great-grandmother told me, 'If you're going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can't be erased.' And then she added, 'But make sure it's not a skid mark.'"

"I'm a Christian. I'm a black woman. I'm a writer. I'm a poet. I'm a dancer. I'm a singer. I'm a mother. I'm a grandmother. I'm a great-grandmother. I'm a friend. I'm a lover. I'm a fighter. I'm a surv…"

"The more you know of your history, the more liberated you are."

"You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. Unless you're trying to write a dissertation, then it just runs out."

"We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated. Unless it's by a really good piece of cake, then it's understandable."