We All Suffer. If A Man's Wise,

I Tell Younger Writers That Indeed It Is Devastating To Be Rejected. You Feel Like The Bottom Dropped Out Of Your World.

It's Always Intrigued Me That Amidst The Group Called Slaves There Were Individuals Who Were Extremely Able, Who Were Extremely Colorful, Who Were Powerful Personalities, Who By No Means Fit The Usual Images Of Slaves. They Were People Who, Through Their Personalities And Abilities, Were Very Respected In The Community Where They Lived By Both Black And White.

I Acknowledge Immense Debt To The Griots [tribal Poets] Of Africa - Where Today It Is Rightly Said That When A Griot Dies, It Is As If A Library Has Burned To The Ground.

Either You Deal With What Is The Reality, Or You Can Be Sure That The Reality Is Going To Deal With You.

Brown People Wouldn't Speak To Someone Who Was Black.