I believe that parts of people like John Garfield and Moms Mabley, the parts of them that I needed to be able to do what I'm doing, came into me. There's a very nice feeling that there are many, many spirits inside of me looking after me . . .

I have witnessed things the ancients would have called miracles, but they are not miracles. They are the products of someone's dream, and they happen as the result of hard work.

Sitting at the table during Color Purple and looking up and suddenly realizing I was acting in front of Steven Spielberg, was pretty cool. It was pretty good.

I grew up in a time when it would never have occurred to anyone to tell me there was anything I couldn't do.

I want Carl Sagan to explain the sky to me.

I'm fighting the label of 'Black' actress simply because it's very limiting in people's eyes, especially people who are making movies.

You have to believe in yourself in spite of what other people believe.