If you look at the true essence of the Black Panthers, they were more of a community protection group.

I like movies. Movies have afforded me a modicum of luxuries. The thing about the movies is, if you're bad in a movie, you're bad forever.

One thing that I've been very vocal about roles I take, and my representation has been very smart about, is that I didn't go to Juilliard to be "Thug #2" in movies. I like to be challenged. I'd say that about 40% of the roles I've done have been written for white men.

There are a lot of limitations and stigmas that are placed on young actors, specifically young black actors.

The great thing about it is, in Hollywood, certain people are very good at keeping their lives and who they are very private. I've never met anybody as down to earth and cool in Hollywood than Matt Damon.

Most of the time when you see a movie, the best character in the movie is not "the guy," it's the guy next to the guy.

Even though homelessness reaches into the depths of despair, there's also a pride and beauty in it, as well.