The whole idea of jazz came about was the interpretation of the human dialogue, trading fours. When someone's soloing and someone picks up the solo and plays it back at 'em, it was the imitation of the human dialogue. It was how people spoke, through music.

There's no greater honor, as an actor, to be a part of a project that changes lives, and awakens and enlightens and entertains.

The Wire' really is an American classic, and I think that's something to be very proud of.

The real question is, Why do you feel as though that's emasculating? A man can't have a conflict? When you try to do art, it's how it lands on people, and hopefully some people will see it the way that I saw it, which is all of these awful choices come from the place of a man who's damaged.

And that's what art is, a form in which people can reflect on who we are as human beings and come to some understanding of this journey we are on.

People forget that art is not just a piece of entertainment. It is the place where we collectively declare our values and then act on them. That's one of the most powerful things we have as a community: our culture and our art. And it's the intersection between life and how people deal with life. It's the most important thing we do.

We always see abhorrent behavior and say why, but then we get mad when somebody tries to answer.