afro-art-chick:

“Applause felt like approval, and it became a drug that soothed the pain, but only temporarily.”

“Other things may change us, but we start and end with family.”

“You leave home to seek your fortune and, when you get it, you go home and share it with your family.”

“I say if it’s going to be done, let’s do it. Let’s not put it in the hands of fate. Let’s not put it in the hands of someone who doesn’t know me. I know me best. Then take a breath and go ahead.”

“I don’t let people use me. That’s why I like a small number of people in my life. The more people in my life, the more complex it becomes, so I just try to keep it at a minimum.”

“If you understand a person’s origins, you can understand her. I’ve always had to take care of myself. I couldn’t just be that sweet little girl who kept her mouth shut. Had I done that, I’d be long gone by now. In this business, an African-American woman has to protect herself because precious few will.”

Happy 54th Birthday to R&B/soul jazz singer-songwriter Anita Baker (b. January 26, 1958)