Conspiracy theories are an irresistible labor-saving device in the face of complexity.

In America there is institutional racism that we all inherit and participate in, like breathing the air in this room - and we have to become sensitive to it.

The story of the African-American people is the story of the settlement and growth of America itself, a universal tale that all people should experience.

The first step toward tolerance is respect and the first step toward respect is knowledge.

The thing about black history is that the truth is so much more complex than anything you could make up.

In Ethiopia, the black people became Christians 1700 years ago, hundreds of years before Northern Europe turned to Christianity... And here, most of the saints are black.

We can revolutionize the attitude of inner city brown and black kids to learning. We need a civil rights movement within the African-American community.

I want to be a figure for prison reform. I think that the criminal justice system is rotten.

Censorship is to art as lynching is to justice.

Wherever you go in the history of America, there have been Black people making contributions, but their contributions have been obscured, lost, buried.

Well, certainly one of the ironies of the success of affirmative action is that the middle class within the black community no longer lives within 'black community' by and large.

Then come. Let me send you to see if you have lived your life serving a deity or a dream.

Don't oppress, don't accept to be oppressed and you will live free.

Don't fool yourself that you're blogging when you're really just putting stuff up online.

Sometimes, you don't need a $5,000 guitar - you need $5,000 worth of lessons.

Every man is his own worst enemy

... it's a blessed thing to love and feel loved in return.

... there's nothing but quarreling with the women; it's my belief they like it better than victuals and drink.

If something doesnt feel normal to me, it must be wrong. Failing to have a shred of imaginative empathy is a virtue!

The conflict between art and politics... cannot and must not be solved.

I had the wonderful benefit of growing up with parents that not only encouraged me to follow my dreams, but supported my aspirations through school and beyond.