"I'm not a politician. I'm an artist. And I use my art to speak truth to power."

"I've learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love."

"I'm always surprised when I'm referred to as a 'legend.' I think of myself as a work in progress. A rather old, but still eager, work in progress."

"I believe that the most important thing a person has is their integrity. And once you lose that, you've lost everything."

"I'm a survivor, not a victim. I'm a black woman, and I'm proud of who I am."