“The story about me, apocryphal or not, is that I could sing before I spoke. My parents went into bedroom one day and there I was standing in the crib singing God Bless America.” StoriesAmericaParentOne DaySingingStandingSpokesBlessBedroomGod BlessGod Bless America Author:Linda Lavin
“I would say Pittsburgh softly each time before throwing him up. Whisper Pittsburgh with my mouth against the tiny ear and throw him higher. Pittsburgh and happiness high up. The only way to leave even the smallest trace. So that all his life her son would feel gladness unaccountably when anyone spoke of the ruined city of steel in America. Each time almost remembering something maybe important that got lost.” WayFeelsImportantAmericaRememberLostCitiesSonHigherMouthsEarsTinySpokesThrowingSmallestSteelRuinedGladnessPittsburgh Book:The Great Fires: Poems, 1982-1992 Source: The Great Fires: Poems, 1982-1992
“I don't like that word 'discovery.' ... Sinatra was the first one to call Ray Charles a genius, he spoke of 'the genius of Ray Charles.' And after that everybody called him a genius. They didn't call him a genius before that though. He was a genius but they didn't call him that. ... If a white man hadn't told them, they wouldn't've seen it. ... Like, you know, they say Columbus discovered America, he didn't discover America.” IfsKnowsMenFirstsAmericaWhiteLike YouGeniusRacismDiscoverySpokesRaysWhite ManColumbus Author:Gayl Jones
“Automobile in America,Chromium steel in America,Wire-spoke wheel in America,Very big deal in America!Immigrant goes to America,Many hellos in America,Nobody knows in America,Puerto Rico's in America!I like the shores of America!Comfort is yours in America!Knobs on the doors in America!Wall-to-wall floors in America!” KnowsBigsAmericaDealsDoorsWallComfortWheelsImmigrantsSpokesShoreSteelWireBig DealAutomobileNobody KnowsPuerto RicoRicoKnobsChromium Author:Stephen Sondheim