I would say if you are familiar with our history and the history of our art and literature that you see a clear cut pattern of people wanting to contribute, not only artistically, but in some practical purpose, for the benefits of the community. Gil Scott-Heron More Quotes by Gil Scott-Heron More Quotes From Gil Scott-Heron Oftentimes, the way it seems to be is that our artists in particular point themselves out as spokesmen for a certain constituency in a community, and thereby place themselves in that vulnerable position. Gil Scott-Heron community artist way I find it not just strange but almost ridiculous that people could take a song like the one I was doing and interpret it is corroding anything. Folks have the feeling that oftentimes if you don't talk about something it will go away. Gil Scott-Heron feelings song people I think a whole lot of stuff gets by people - I could name half a dozen groups that do songs that are openly supportive of experimentation with drugs, nobody ever said anything to them. Gil Scott-Heron names song thinking Every once in a while, you live long enough to get the respect that people didn't want to give while you were trying to become a senior citizen. Gil Scott-Heron senior long people I was born in Chicago, but I was raised in a town called Jackson, Tennessee. And a lot of these changes that were necessary and talked about it as important have been made, like, people go to school where they want to go. They work for equal pay, they work for - they can go school and have an equal shot at a job. Gil Scott-Heron equal-pay jobs school I learnt early on that your audience take the songs in the way they want to rather than the way you might want them too. Gil Scott-Heron song might way Angel dust won't go away. Somefolks who were smoking it were going away. Gil Scott-Heron dust angel smoking You should be able to do anything you can afford as an adult. Gil Scott-Heron adults able should I tour more than I need to, more than is good for you. But it's my favorite part of music. I much prefer it to studio work. Gil Scott-Heron studios my-favorite needs I was one of the first three black students to go to an all-white school in Tennessee. Gil Scott-Heron black white school Schedule? I have no schedule. There is no hurry. I work when I want to. Gil Scott-Heron schedules want You can have a poem like "B-Movie" and sum up thirty conversations that people have had on the subject, but I wrote it down, and other people didn't. Gil Scott-Heron thirty down-and people I don't think people in power have the potential to do anything like that to me. I feel as though as long as our music is available, folks are going to hear it. Gil Scott-Heron long people thinking I don't suspect that in many instances the artists who are dedicated in that fashion to the progress of that community are as well protected by the community as might be necessary. Gil Scott-Heron fashion community artist Every show that sells out is like a hero's welcome for me. Gil Scott-Heron welcome hero shows I was a better writer when I was teaching. I was constantly going over the basics and constantly reminding myself, as I reminded my students, what made a good story, a good poem. Gil Scott-Heron students teaching stories I was a piano player before I was a poet. Gil Scott-Heron piano poet player I found my grandmother dead. It shook me up. I got up to make her breakfast, and I knew it was strange that she wasn't stirring. I went in to wake her, and she was laying in rigor mortis, and I'm done. I called next door, and the kid picked up the phone, and I was so wild, he dropped it. Gil Scott-Heron door phone me breakfast Well, I grew up on the blues, man! Gil Scott-Heron blues well up man Your life has to consist of more than 'Black people should unite.' You hope they do, but not twenty-four hours a day. Gil Scott-Heron day you hope life
