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The previous generation paved the way for my generation to gallop unheeded into jobs previously reserved for men.

I grew up a middle class, colonized child of teachers and librarians and people, women especially, who treasured education.

In so many ways, segregation shaped me, and education liberated me.

I grew up in a family that was multifaceted, sexually oriented, and pretty much open to everything. And because I was working, my friends were all adults. I had a tough time going to different schools because people knew me from films and I was the fat child who got beaten up every day.

My parents were marvelously educated people.

I saw my parents come over. They were immigrants, they had no money. My dad wore the same pair of shoes, I had some ugly clothes growing up, and I never had any privileges. In some ways, I think the person that I am now, I think it's good that I had that kind of tough upbringing.

My parents were the first in our family to go to grammar school. My grandparents were in service.

Eventually, I won the right to attend school, but the prejudice was still there.

I grew up in a family in which no male upstream from me had ever finished high school, much less gone to college. But I was taught that even though there was nothing I could do about what was behind me, I could change everything about what was in front of me. My working poor parents told me that I could do better.