My father was the quintessential husband and dad.

I was fortunate enough to have been raised to a certain point before I got into the race thing. I had other views of what a human is, so I was never able to see racism as the big question. Racism was horrendous, but there were other aspects to life.

I knew what it was to be uncomfortable in a movie theater watching unfolding on the screen images of myself - not me, but black people - that were uncomfortable.

But I always had the ability to say no. That's how I called my own shots.

I come from a great family. I've seen family life and I know how wonderful, how nurturing, and how wonderful it can be.

I had chosen to use my work as a reflection of my values.

I have a kind of respect - a worshipful attitude, even - for nature and the natural order and the cosmos and the seasons.