"I'm a teacher. I've been a teacher all my life. I teach through my writing, through my speaking, through my singing, through my dancing, through my acting."

"I've learned that you can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. Or when you're looking for your car keys."

"I'm a survivor. I'm a black woman. I am a writer. I am a poet. I am a dancer. I am a singer. I am a cook. I am a mother. I am a lover. I am a friend. I am a human being. I am a lot of things. And I'm …"

"I'm not interested in being famous. I'm interested in being good at what I do."

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."