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I am not a civil rights leader, and I don't profess to be one.

When I wrote the song, The Way It Is, I wanted to move people to take a stand on civil rights in this country.

I was born a singer. I need to do that.

I've always wanted to be a singer.

I used to want to be a backup singer. Not a lead singer, because I really can't sing.

All I want to do is sing on other people's records.

I'm a child of the Civil Rights Movement.

I don't want to stay a singer forever. I want to fulfill my dream career as a lawyer!

I'm an artist, I'm not an activist.

One of the reasons I didn't ever pursue a career - in the music world if you're black or mixed, you need to be able to belt a song or else you're not a singer, you know?