“For each of us as women, there is a dark place within, where hidden and growing our true spirit rises, beautiful and tough as chestnut stanchions against our nightmare of weakness.”

I learned so much from listening to people. And all I knew was, the only thing I had was honesty and openness.

I am deliberate and afraid of nothing.

Poetry is not only dream and vision; it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before.

We have to consciously study how to be tender with each other until it becomes a habit because what was native has been stolen from us, the love of Black women for each other.

I believe one of the hardest things you can do is conquer your fears, but if you have a goal, then it’s your job to open up and let it be real no matter how scary it seems.

I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.

Tomorrow belongs to those of us who conceive of it as belonging to everyone; who lend the best of ourselves to it, and with joy.

If they cannot love and resist at the same time, they probably will not survive.

If they cannot love and resist at the same time, they probably will not survive.

When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.

Construct templates for possible futures, and focus our rage for change upon our enemies rather than upon each other.

How hard it is to sleep in the middle of life.

It’s a struggle but that’s why we exist, so that another generation of Lesbians of color will not have to invent themselves, or their history, all over again.

It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.

To that piece in each of us that refuses to be silent.

The oppression of women knows no ethnic nor racial boundaries, true, but that does not mean it is identical within those boundaries.

I share the same advice that my mom gave me – stay hydrated and sleep well. And that being a beautiful person on the inside is what really matters.

Now my ability to notice things and respond to things and be here is far more profound. With that comes happiness, with it comes sadness, but it’s a beautiful life.

It’s not the face, but the expressions on it. It’s not the voice, but what you say. It’s not how you look in that body, but the thing you do with it. You are beautiful.

I just like the company of beautiful women. I have a weakness in that department.

Everybody understands that acting is a really difficult job. It’s hard work. You’ve got to get dressed up, you’ve got to hang around with beautiful women. It’s difficult. It’s a problem.

My problem is that people get intimidated by someone big and beautiful like me. They hate to think I can be smart as well.

I just like the company of beautiful women. I have a weakness in that department. And I suppose because I am fairly well off and a famous musician, I’m up for grabs. And that makes me an eligible bachelor in the press.

I’ve always liked ladies all my life. I guess it started with my mom. So every time I saw a pretty lady, I thought, she’s pretty.