I saw that I could not afford the luxury of just being an actress. So I made a choice to use my career as a platform to address the issues of the race I was born into.

The moment anyone tries to demean or degrade you in any way, you have to know how great you are. Nobody would bother to beat you down if you were not a threat.

Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. They're what make the instrument stretch - what make you go beyond the norm.

I am not a quitter. I will fight until I drop. It is just a matter of having some faith in the fact that as long as you are able to draw breath in the universe, you have a chance.

If each person in this world will simply take a small piece of this huge thing, this amazing quilt, and work it regardless of the color of the yarn, we will have harmony on this planet.

Whatever good I have accomplished as an actress I believe came in direct proportion to my efforts to portray black women who have made positive contributions to my heritage.

You never know what motivates you.

All I have to do is find someone who has something to say that will enrich my life and they can't get rid of me.

Children should have a balanced start in life: a mother and a father. I think that's the only reason to get married.

We have to support our own films. If we don't, how can we expect others to support them?

I will lead my people out of bondage, Lord.

I watched all the Saw movies. They were good. But I think Freddie Krueger or Jason might be the best.

I like the construction of sentences and the juxtaposition of words-not just how they sound or what they mean, but even what they look like.

The capacity to creatively improvise is an important factor that differentiates successful companies - or teams - from those that are not successful.

Time and progress are synonymous terms--nothing can stop either. Truth will prevail and that is why I know that my teachings will reach the masses and finally be adopted as universal.

Everything is randomly connected.

The majority of people do not accept my choices.

My mom was my muse - she would buy me Italian 'Vogue.' I was this little fashion boy.

I live in Los Angeles, which is the second most polluted city in the world, and I wake up in the morning to dirt all over my window.

I fell into lyric writing because of music. I backed into it.

President George Bush had the courage and the vision and we will always be grateful to President George Bush for that tremendous leadership and statesmanship.