You can't pick when you're touched. You can't pick the time. It just is. It's the reality. What it is, is. I can't change the past. I can only deal with the present and the future.

You got to remember that slavery's very complex. It has a lot of levels to it.

When they were making black films in the '60s and the '70s, everyone knew their place, if you get my drift. You understand? Everyone knew the rules, and everyone knew their place. Everyone knew what to say. They had the written rules in Hollywood film, and the unwritten rules.

A woman can tell me about her having a baby, but I'll never know what it is to have a baby.

Hillary Clinton could say she was a woman and running for president. And Sarah Palin could say she was a woman and running for vice-president. But Obama couldn't say, 'I'm black and I'm running for president.' It couldn't come out of his mouth. He couldn't say that because, if he did, he'd lose votes.

A new broom can sweep the floor, but an old broom knows where the dirt is.

White people are very good at acting like they're not racist. They deserve an Academy Award for that.