Musician

I don't like rap music at all. I don't think it's music. It's just a beat and rapping.

When I was studying... there weren't any black concert pianists. My choices were intuitive, and I had the technique to do it. People have heard my music and heard the classic in it, so I have become known as a black classical pianist.

At this crucial time in our lives, when everything is so desperate, when every day is a matter of survival, I don't think you can help but be involved.

The worst thing about that kind of prejudice... is that while you feel hurt and angry and all the rest of it, it feeds you self-doubt. You start thinking, perhaps I am not good enough.

Slavery has never been abolished from America's way of thinking.

It's an artist's duty to reflect the times in which we live.

Greed has driven the world crazy. And I think I'm lucky that I have a place over here that I can call home.

As a political weapon, it has helped me for 30 years defend the rights of American blacks and third-world people all over the world, to defend them with protest songs. To move the audience to make them conscious of what has been done to my people around the world.

I think that the artists who don't get involved in preaching messages probably are happier - but you see, I have to live with Nina, and that is very difficult.

There's no excuse for the young people not knowing who the heroes and heroines are or were.

There's no excuse for the young people not knowing who the heroes and heroines are or were.

I'm not a blues singer, I'm a diva.

I didn't get interested in music. It was a gift from God.

My daughter is in more competition with me. I never wanted to be bigger than my mother or to challenge her.

I think if I were over there in America, protest music would be more important. But I'm not going.

I had spent many years pursuing excellence, because that is what classical music is all about... Now it was dedicated to freedom, and that was far more important.

I think if I were over there in America, protest music would be more important. But I'm not going.

I try to swim every damn day I can, and I've learned to scuba dive and snorkel.

The worst thing about that kind of prejudice... is that while you feel hurt and angry and all the rest of it, it feeds you self-doubt. You start thinking, perhaps I am not good enough.

I'll tell you what freedom is to me: no fear. I mean really, no fear!