Toni Morrison — "Slavery is never a choice. It's a condition."

"I am not interested in writing for white people. I am interested in writing for Black people."

"The best art is political and you ought to be able to make it unquestionably political and irrevocably beautiful at the same time."

"I think of myself as an American writer."

"Nonsense. The only thing they can do to you is kill you. And then your spirit is free. So don't be afraid. Fear of death is the greatest evil."

"The very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being. Somebody says you have no language and you s…"