When you love something it's not a job anymore.

I used the principles of Kickstarter to make 'She's Gotta Have It.' We filmed that in 1985 to 1986. The final cost was $175,000. I didn't have that money. It was friends, grants, donations. We saved our bottles for the nickel deposit.

I never understood the concept of showing everything in the trailer. Why go to a movie if there's no surprise? I can't do it like that.

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?

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

I miss my brother. Prince was a funny cat. Great sence of humor.

One of the great things about African-Americans is that we've always had this attitude: We make do with what we got. It comes from our ancestors being slaves.