Just having hope ain't going to cut it. You've got to have hope, passion and skills.

The business is so upside down now. It's not just about the bling-bling.

How did we suddenly become entranced with gangster culture? I saw it this morning on campus. When did the black community say we should all look like criminals?

Life is not without a little adventure, Adventure is not without a little danger, Success is not without a little failure

Ninety percent of the time, you're going to hear no. It took me seven years to make 'Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored.' Nobody wanted to see the movie made. I got the movie made.

Black people don't even question things any more, they simply follow the lead.

A film should be an experience. You should feel something. It should motivate you to feel something.

Why would you create a movie for black people if you don't understand the history and perspective of the people you are doing it for? You need historical perspective to make sound decisions.

One problem when you get energy and want to go with it is that with so large a cast of talented people, you have to wait three or four shows for some 'meat.'

The name of the game is efficiency; we have to play that game with our toys and our brains.

I am not always good and noble. I am the hero of this story, but I have my off moments.

A guilty conscience is not worth extra food.

Every time I look at you I get a fierce desire to be lonesome.

We cannot move forward or will not move forward if we are divided.

In the land of the killers, a sinner's mind is a sanctum.

You know, not to sound corny or nuthin', but I felt like a fighter comin' up, man. I felt like, you know, I'm being attacked for this reason or that reason, and I gotta fight my way through this.

[God] is the kind Creator who brought forth nature out of nothing.

It's not about money. The money will flow. It's about power and influence.

It's not how pretty you are or how talented you are. It's that if these five people on this day in this room like you, then you get a job.

I'm very rarely in the gym. My workouts are predominantly outside, in nature.