I'm always captivated by stories of women who find a way to be daring - misbehaving women.

Gender and race got very entwined in the 19th century, as abolition broke out, and then women wanted the right to speak about it.

In the early 1800s, religion was often used as a way to keep slavery in place. Slaves were forced to attend the church of their owners, listen to selective dogma that kept them obedient and subservient.

When I wrote 'The Secret Life of Bees,' I was writing about civil rights.

I enjoy being the messenger for God in terms of letting people know about HIV and AIDS.

In the first place, God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made school boards.

Suffice it to say that our over-reliance on testing is based largely on habit, wishful thinking, and leaps of faith.

I find that doing of the will of God leaves me no time for disputing about His plans.