I want to be a part of great things.

I imagine it was much different in the 1970s. That was the Renaissance for black actors, albeit in blaxploitation movies. There was a much greater preponderance of work then than there is now.

I was about to write that in the future I would chose my words more carefully but I'm sure I won't.

I don't know what would be antithetical to do on the other side, maybe a Tyler Perry movie or something. No, there are very few comedies that live in between that. Or you're doing some kid thing like a Jim Carrey movie with animated something that's like that. Yeah, I've wanted to do them. I like doing them. I did Talk to Me. That was pretty much a comedy.

I think having good family and friends really helps to ground you.

I've never been a part of a film before that offers such a platform into real issues, that raises social awareness and has the potential to change things.

It is the least represented among us who will be the most affected first. We have a moral responsibility to protect them.