Movies, as evidenced by a chorus of protesting and celebrating Americans, influence broader trends.

I mean, I think that - as an actress, in particular, I'm basically a fool, and I see the world upside down.

I think some of our most talented people are not going to pick the arts as a way that they're going to spend their lives.

I feel like my work has been my path to freedom from having grown up in a segregated environment.

We who are in the arts are at the risk of being in a popularity contest rather than a profession. If that fact causes you despair . . . pick another profession. Your desire to communicate must be bigger than your relationship with the chaotic and unfair realities . . . We have to create our own standards of discipline.

People in power have to be careful about what comes out of their mouth. They have to find exactly the right word that can't be attacked.

Self-esteem does not come from surrounding yourself with people and things that seem to increase your value. Real self-esteem is an integration of an inner-value with things in the world around you.