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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
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Gil Scott-Heron
Age: 62 †
Born: 1949
Born: April 1
Died: 2011
Died: May 27
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Glibert Scott-Heron
Gil Scott Heron
Gilbert Scott-Heron
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More quotes by Gil Scott-Heron
A lot of folks are so busy trying to get their groceries together that they don't have time to do research. I have time. Maybe that's the main difference.
Gil Scott-Heron
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
Nobody can do everything, but everybody can do something.
Gil Scott-Heron
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
All the dreams you show up in are not your own.
Gil Scott-Heron
The way you get to know yourself is by the expressions on other people's faces, because that's the only thing that you can see, unless you carry a mirror about.
Gil Scott-Heron
Everything that's bad for you catches on too quickly in America, because that's the easiest thing to get people to invest in, the pursuits that are easy and destructive, the ones that bring out the least positive aspects of people.
Gil Scott-Heron
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
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
Every show that sells out is like a hero's welcome for me.
Gil Scott-Heron
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
If you aren't having no fun, die, because you're running a worthless program, far as I'm concerned.
Gil Scott-Heron
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
If someone comes to you and asks for help, and you can help them, you're supposed to help them. Why wouldn't you? You have been put in the position somehow to be able to help this person.
Gil Scott-Heron
I don't see any independent position that I'm in it's rather inter-dependent.
Gil Scott-Heron
A good poet feels what his community feels. Like if you stub your toe, the rest of your body hurts.
Gil Scott-Heron
I work hard at it [delivery of lyrics], just like I worked hard at getting my masters degree. It's not just something I sit down and do. You have to learn and keep learning.
Gil Scott-Heron
Paul Robeson once said that the artist has the responsibility to either help liberate the community or further oppress it. And I think that when Eldridge Cleaver wrote it down it was interpreted as his, but there's a history of people saying things of that nature and meaning it. And what I do is in that tradition, in that mode.
Gil Scott-Heron
The first revolution is when you change your mind
Gil Scott-Heron
As for money - when I have it, it's great. When I don't, I go get some. I've been a dishwasher, a gardener, a cleaner.
Gil Scott-Heron
