Our greatness, our talent has never been the question. It's been a matter of grappling for control over what we do.

I'd like to state that Spike Lee is not saying that African American culture is just for black people alone to enjoy and cherish. Culture is for everybody.

You gotta make your own way. You gotta find a way. You gotta get it done. It's hard. It's tough. That's what I tell my students every day in class. I've been very fortunate. Some people might call me a hardhead, but I'm not going to let other people dictate to me who I should be or the stories I should tell. That doesn't register with me.

First of all, what in this world does not revolve around money? But money is a big part of film, unlike a lot of other art forms.

We’ve gone through the names—Negro, African American, African, Black. For me that’s an indication of a people still trying to find their identity. Who determines what is black?

I'll be vilified if I shoot a film in Toronto for New York. And rightfully so!

I've always tried to - when I've been able to - support young artists, no matter what medium.