“My father was right: you could make anybody amazing just by insisting they were.”

“I don't want you to worry about protecting my feelings or your father's or anybody's. When you were little you always tried to make everyone ahppy. Then it was like one day you just exploded.”

“Besides, skin color was skin color, right? It was just the color of your goddamned skin. There was nothing anybody could do about that. You were born with it. Like some people were born with big feet or blue eyes. You didn't make the choice. Your parents did. Or God did.”

“It was amazing how many friends you could make by being bad at things, provided you were bad enough to be funny.”

“My father insisted that the boys in my life were directly responsible for my juvenile-delinquent tendencies.My mother, more accurately, assumed that I was the bad influence.”

“Your love is unchangeable Lord! I am Amazing and Incredible like My Father. Do not be amazed! I have moved forward, just dance with me. I am an upward high-flier, just rejoice with me.”