“When you are what we call a 'minority writer,' a writer of color, a wr...” — Rumaan Alam Quote

“When you are what we call a 'minority writer,' a writer of color, a writer of any kind of difference, there is some kind of presumption of autobiography in everything you produce. And I find that really maddening, and I resist that.”

“Vanity is a sensitive subject for gay men.”

“Does a bona fide chimichurri have cilantro in it? Who cares? Cooking for your family, unless your family includes Joel Rubouchon, is liberating in that regard.”

“I have a children's book already out and my autobiography.”

“Growing up, I read all three of Frederick Douglass' autobiographies by the time I was 12.”

“What's upsetting about an autobiography is that the final chapter is always missing. I mean, you want the death, don't you?”