"It became quite apparent to me that if I did not begin to control my own destiny, I was going to have it changed abou…"

"I think blacks have a different acceptance of reality than white people. We're more realistic."

"It was during the days of the black revolution, and they wanted me to do a ‘foam-in’ demonstration in the streets, wi…"

"The only thing you could train for if you were a black girl in the South, rural, poor, was a teacher or hairdresser, …"

"You can only do it when you don’t know you can’t do it."

"I couldn't spell, which was a job handicap."

"There was never any reason for me to succeed. I had no business experience, I had no capital, I had absolutely nothin…"

"Nothing is more absurd. Power is sexless."

"We made it clear that we were different. We said that we would not take liquor and cigarettes, which was kind of an i…"

"When you buy inclusion and acceptance with conformity, the price bankrupts us spiritually. My greatest wealth is not …"