I can't speak for what other artists should do. I can only tell you how I live.

As we women know, there are so many other hurdles that we have to cross that I would love it if we could stop having the race conversation so that we can get women further on. You know, a female president now that we have an African American president. Maybe we can get an Asian female, a gay person?

The fact that women are very young in obtaining their civil rights and African-Americans are young in obtaining their civil rights, I think it's about time that we extend that to all Americans, whether straight, gay, purple, green, black, brown.

My job as an artist is to present the material. My job as a woman is to receive from it what I need.

One thing I've learned is be comfortable in your skin, and more importantly, be comfortable in your shoes.

Unfortunately, there's a lack of roles for women of color, so you actually have to be the engineer creating some of those roles.

The one thing that I realize - well, not the one thing, but it was a big thing - having in my head that I need to get healthier. It's been a very gradual process for me.