We Negro writers, just by being black, have been on the blacklist all our lives . . . Censorship for us begins at the color line.

We Negro writers, just by being black, have been on the blacklist all our lives. Censorship for us begins at the color line.

Even the 'Negro' shows like 'Amos and Andy' and 'Beulah' are written largely by white writers - the better to preserve the stereotypes, I imagine.

I was a victim of a stereotype. There were only two of us Negro kids in the whole class, and our English teacher was always stressing the importance of rhythm in poetry. Well, everybody knows - except us - that all Negroes have rhythms, so they elected me class poet.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.