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There are many positive things to say about the black community. No question about it.

I've been blessed with the opportunity to express the views of black people who otherwise don't have access to power and the media. I have to take advantage of that while I'm still bankable.

When I was a kid, no one would believe anything positive that you could say about black people. That's a terrible burden.

There is a perception within our community and the world that black people don't love each other. That we don't fight for each other. That perception is so dangerous. We need positive images to counter the negative portrayals we see every day. And positive doesn't mean perfect. Perfect is boring.

Black culture has been a huge influence in my life.

From infancy, I have relied on the fiercely sweet spirits of black men; and this is abundantly clear in my work.

I don't think being black has held me back at all. Being black makes you strong.

The black community is my community - the LGBT community, too, and the female community. That is my community. That's me; it's who I am.

I think the black community is no different from any other community. We need to take responsibility for how we live together. We need to be personally responsible for keeping our streets clean, our schools safe, and our houses peaceful.

We as men, in particular black men, are constantly supported, nurtured, forgiven, apologized for, led, followed and coddled by black women, and they get very little in return.