Why Do I Write? The Truth, The

There Is A Problem In America. An Irish Or Polish American Can Write A Story And It's An American Story. When A Black American Writes A Story, It's Called A Black Story. I Take Exception To That. Every Artist Has Articulated To His Own Experience. The Problem Is That Some People Do Not See Blacks As Americans.

I Don't Want To Write Without A Sense Of Drama, Without Passion, Or Without Both Eyes Open To The World Around Me.

That's One Of The Privileges Of Old Age - You Can Give Plenty Of Advice 'cause Most Folks Think That's All You Got Left Anyway.

She Could Walk Through A Lightning Storm Without Being Touched; Grab A Bolt Of Lightning In The Palm Of Her Hand; Use The Heat Of Lightning To Start The Kindling Going Under Her Medicine Pot. She Turned The Moon Into Salve, The Stars Into Swaddling Cloth, And Healed The Wounds Of Every Creature Walking Up On Two Or Down On Four.

Sometimes Being A Friend Means Mastering The Art Of Timing. There Is A Time For Silence. A Time To Let Go... And A Time To Prepare To Pick Up The Pieces When It's All Over.