I don't remember, as a child, feeling a lack of anything.
I didn't realize it until I was grown how necessary it is for good people to be tough.
I don't think the arts would have been as meaningful to me if I hadn't grown up in Harlem.
I have this deep love for authors. I think that we don't do enough to encourage love of words and love of books.
You hear people say, 'We take our Tennessee Williams very seriously. There is no laughter here.' It's full of humor! Not to laugh is a big, bad mistake!
You're not supposed to go into business with the sole purpose of putting your neighbor out of business. This is not the United States of Corporate America.
Black women have to know the historical and everyday struggles of black men, and our men have to know the struggles of black women in America.
My whole life is not defined by what Hollywood does.
Marriage is more complex than we think.
Marriage is really an exciting adventure.
God has use for all the old people.
Life can't die. It's a contradiction.
Well, I didn't grow up with that word 'retirement' as part of my consciousness. I didn't grow up with professionals that retired. I thought retiring was when you are tired and go to bed.
When I was young, I dreamt of being a starlet in Hollywood. But there comes a point in every African American's life when you realize the limitations, that you could only play maids or some little supporting role. Even Lena Horne couldn't get good parts.
I'm an actor who appreciates direction.
I really don't believe in retiring as long as you can breathe.
Gangsters lived in the neighborhood. They weren't apart from it. Their relationships with people were both benevolent and scary.
Black filmmakers - I'm grateful for them.
Racism is a very insidious thing. It's dangerous to the psyche, to mind and body. It erodes the self-confidence. And I don't know how we get through it.
An Oscar nomination? That would be a very satisfying thing, I'm sure. I would appreciate the thought. It would be like taking your hat off as an actor to all the people who walk through you.
