American slavery was not a Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western. It was a holocaust. My ancestors are slaves. Stolen from Africa. I will honor them.

I don't think I'm a total pessimist, so I think you can find hope in all my films.

You have to do the research. If you don't know about something, then you ask the right people who do.

Amongst black people, you have always heard it said that once a black man reaches a certain level, especially if you are an entertainer, you get a white trophy woman. I didn't make that up.

A lot of times, we censor ourselves before the censor even gets there.

I don't see any negativity with what Brad Pitt is doing with his Make It Right Foundation, or what Sean Penn is trying to do in Haiti.

I don't like acting; not in front of the camera.