Patriotism is best exemplified through auto-critique.

I try to be sensitive, but the atmosphere I create is very supportive. One overriding premise of the series is that guilt is not heritable. It's good to know about them, but you are not responsible for them. You don't have to apologize for them. It's a process of knowing, and the more you know, the richer the sense of yourself. The firmer your foundation as a human being is

You notice patterns. White guests often are mortified - that word again - when they learn their ancestors owned slaves. But I've never had a black guest who was upset to learn about white ancestry that probably involved forced sexual relations.

Without doubt, President [Barack] Obama is a great historical figure.

Lincoln would love the fact that Obama is such a great conciliator, trying to transcend ideology.

Politicians will not put forth programs aimed at the problems of poor blacks while their turnout remains so low.

My brother and I had a really privileged relationship with my parents... They treated us like adults.