I'm surprised that Hollywood and networks have not been diverse as other industries.

I've been blessed with the opportunity to express the views of black people who otherwise don't have access to power and the media. I have to take advantage of that while I'm still bankable.

I'm always open to new, innovative stuff and people trying to do stuff in a different way. I knew that the theatrical release would be like getting on the launch pad for Amazon Prime but I was okay with that because I think what Jeff Bezos and Ted Hope are doing is innovative.

This film [Chi-Raq]is a declaration. It's a scream. It's a warning. And I can really break it down to one scene. That's the scene where we have the eulogy and sermon that is given by the great John Cusack.

I really don't deal with hypotheticals.

People of color have a constant frustration of not being represented, or being misrepresented, and these images go around the world.

It comes down to this: black people were stripped of our identities when we were brought here, and it's been a quest since then to define who we are.