Racism has been for everyone like a horrible, tragic car crash, and we've all been heavily sedated from it. If we don't come into consciousness of this tragedy, there's going to be a violent awakening we don't want. The question is, can we wake up?

I am lucky: I have fantastic doctors and a fantastic dentist.

Listening is not just hearing what someone tells you word for word. You have to listen with a heart. I don't want that to sound touchy-feely; it is not. It is very hard work.

I'm interested when things are upside down - because there are so many possibilities in that one moment. There is a lot that is exposed.

Somehow we can't live outside the politics of race. There's something very deep in all of us, that is taught to us when we are very, very little. Which is the disrespect and fear of the other.

Making your life is ultimately an extraordinarily creative endeavor.

Suddenly in high school, I'm in a predominantly Jewish atmosphere. Jewish people were my gate to white America.