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My dad was a city councilman and a county commissioner, so I grew up involved and engaged in the political process.

I was a political science student.

I really got to a point where I thought maybe I would want to be involved politically.

I was studying political science; I was adamant that I was going to follow in my father's footsteps.

But generally speaking, I felt to engage in the political process was to sully oneself to such a degree that whatever came out wasn't worth the trouble put in.

I came into American politics and into this political system proud of politics and the way we make decisions.

My father, Melvin van Peebles, and my mother were both very active politically when I was a kid. The first time I was allowed to stay up late was to attend a demonstration.

I've had an interest in politics since I was a little kid.

It is feasible for someone who comes from a privileged background to understand the privilege they have had and to use the formal political arena in a way that would disperse power and engage with people in their own lives.