The burden of being a constant symbol, of having to live up to a symbol of advancement, of progress, of being perfect in some way and always representing the destiny of an entire people - that is supposed to be invincibility. That's enormous. Margo Jefferson advancementburdenconstant share on social
My individual way of taking on the burdens of history has changed. I don't think of them only as burdens; I think they are honorable. Margo Jefferson burdenchangehistory Change image and share on social
'Melancholy' is prettier than 'depression'; it connotes a kind of nocturnal grace. Makes one feel more innocently beleaguered. Margo Jefferson beleaguerconnotedepression Change image and share on social
New Yorkers know how to borrow wildly. You know, Louis Armstrong was not a New York musician. He went from New Orleans to Chicago to New York, and when he arrived here, he taught those New Yorkers. New York needs that infusion. Margo Jefferson armstrongarriveborrow share on social
All readers are tourists. We want to make sense of what we see and hear, to find the balance between what is unknown and what we can call ours. Margo Jefferson balancecallfind Change image and share on social
Many say that no real avant-garde - which I'll define as a combative group of free-thinking artists - can exist anymore. The media's reach is too vast. New artists and movements get snatched up too quickly. Margo Jefferson anymoreartistavant share on social
Michael Jackson loved epic symbols. In his shows and his videos, he always destroyed or salvaged worlds; he was the hero of parables about street violence, sexual combat, war and natural disaster. It was always apocalypse or apotheosis now. Margo Jefferson apocalypseapotheosiscombat share on social
I need to acknowledge the toll certain parts of my life are taking on me. I have to do that, even if it temporarily paralyzes me to suppress it. Otherwise, paradoxically, I can't go on. When I can reside in that, and recoup, then I can continue. In a strange way it's a survival method. Margo Jefferson acknowledgecontinuelife share on social
Self-examination - when the whole world around you is pressuring that and challenging you - is very, very hard. Looking at a whole structure - in my case, let us say of snobbery, basking in certain privileges, marks of what appear to be superiority - that's ugly to look at. Margo Jefferson baskcasechallenge share on social
What's often not acknowledged about depression is how much anger is in it. Margo Jefferson acknowledgeangerdepression Change image and share on social