The first eight years of schooling was with all white people. So that helped me to understand how white people think. I think that transition is what helped me bridge the gap, because that's what my success has really been about: bridging the gap between the black community and the white community.

If you're absent during my struggle, don't expect to be present during my success.

There's a certain delusional quality that all successful people have to have.

I want the world to be better because I was here. I want my life, I want my work, my family, I want it to mean something and if you are not making someone else's life better then you are wasting your time.

I'm not afraid to die on a treadmill.

I was trying so hard. I would memorize the entire script, then I'd be lipping everybody's lines while they were talking. When I watch those episodes, it's disgusting. My performances were horrible.

I refuse to accept anything less than 100% of what I can achieve.