I don't write particularly to effect social change. I believe writing can do that, but that's not why I write.

And so I write. I write my life. I write to escape real life. I write to live moments over again. I write to rewrite the moments I’ve lived over in a way that makes more sense to me. I write the moments to heal. I write the moments I hope never happen. And I write the moments I hope will happen.

I write the black experience in America, and contained within that experience, because it is a human experience, are all the universalities.

I believe in social dislocation and creative trouble.

I definitely believe that art is the best way to produce social change.

Even though I believe in mass social movements, I'm uncomfortable in crowds.