It is important to have friends and family around that I love and trust and who love and trust me.

There are so many untold stories when it comes to great women of color.

I think most people, when they think about the Black Panther Party, they think in very abstract, caricatured terms. They think about black fists in the air, but they don't think about the actual people, and the families, and the relationships.

You're able to make a real difference. If a woman's able to step away financially, she's able to begin to do all the other work.

You can never control how people respond to your work. You can only control your own work ethic.

Learn to embrace your own unique beauty, celebrate your unique gifts with confidence. Your imperfections are actually a gift.

You see the transformation that the arts have on young people. It changes their lives for the better. That's where my engagement is.