Black Pearls Living

I am not afraid to trust my sisters—not I.

—Angelina Grimké

At first color doesn’t mean very much to little children, black or white. Only as they grow older and absorb poisons from adults does color begin to blind them.

—Roy Wilkins

Our feelings are our most genuine paths to knowledge. They are chaotic, sometimes painful, sometimes contradictory, but they come from deep within us. And we must key into those feelings…. This is how new visions begin.

—Audre Lorde

Everybody loves a fool, but nobody wants him for a son.

—Malinke Proverb

It is only what is written upon the soul of man that will survive the wreck of time.

—Francis Grimké

I am most passionate in my relationship with mama. It is with her that I feel loved and sometimes accepted. She is the one person who looks into my heart, sees its needs, and tries to satisfy them.

—Bell Hooks

By trying often, the monkey learns to jump from the tree.

—Cameroon Proverb

Everyone, regardless of how naturally optimistic he or she is, has to work at remaining positive.

—Lenda Murray

The greatest thing I ever was able to do was give a welfare check back. I brought it back … and said, “Here. I don’t need this anymore.”

—Whoopi Goldberg

I patterned myself from classy ladies. I take as much from them as I can, but I take it naturally, because I’m not going to be phony about it.

—Tina Turner