I could easily have decided that life was cruel, that being black meant everything was stacked against me.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
It's hard being black. You ever been black? I was black once - when I was poor.
I do remember being teased by my cousins on my mom's side for not being black enough. And then I'd spend the summer with my dad and be sent to all white summer camps where I was 'that black girl.'
The hopeless grief of those poor colored people affected me more than almost anything else.
I'm black because that's the way the world sees me.
I felt black. I was as far as I was concerned. And I wanted to be black for lots of reasons. They were better musicians, they were better athletes, they were not uptight about sex, and they knew how to enjoy life better than most people.
Life is about choices. Some we regret, some were proud of. Some will haunt us forever. 'Black Rain' was very much about choices. The message - we are what we chose to be.
I am black, and there's no getting around that, but being black doesn't define every aspect of my life.
I don't think being black has held me back at all. Being black makes you strong.
I never had that thing about being black. If the whole world was like that, maybe there would be more harmony and love.
There was a while when I was feeling like, 'Damn, if I'd just been born black, I would not have to go through all this'.