[James] Baldwin is needed even more today because he helps you focus to the essential, to what is important.

Over the years, he disappeared - like a lot of our leaders disappear. [James Baldwin] was not assassinated, but somehow he went through those assassinations as if it was himself. I think that broke him as well.

There are only one or two geniuses every century.

It was really always about bringing back [James] Baldwin's words in all their rawness, in all their impact - in the way he analyzes not only this country but also the history of this country, the images that this country is fabricating through Hollywood, and what consequence that has in our imagination.

Face your reality. You, black or white, are not innocent anymore. Either you have the courage to face it or you will go down together with the whole idea of the American Dream.

Your tweet is as important as if you would have written a Ph.D. [dissertation] on the subject.

Today, I don't even think that people like [James Baldwin] are possible. He would not have that much room.