If we became students of Malcolm X we would not have young black men out there killing each other like they're killing each other now. Young black men would not be impregnating young black women at the rate going on now. We'd not have the drugs we have now or the alcoholism.

If we became students of Malcolm X we would not have young black men out there killing each other like they're killing each other now. Young black men would not be impregnating young black women at the rate going on now. We'd not have the drugs we have now or the alcoholism.

Right now a lot of people are still choosing to go to Toronto instead of shooting in New York City something I haven't done and something I hope I'll never have to do.

Right now a lot of people are still choosing to go to Toronto instead of shooting in New York City something I haven't done and something I hope I'll never have to do.

Violence is a part of America. I don't want to single out rap music. Let's be honest. America's the most violent country in the history of the world that's just the way it is. We're all affected by it.

Violence is a part of America. I don't want to single out rap music. Let's be honest. America's the most violent country in the history of the world that's just the way it is. We're all affected by it.

I had a great education. From kindergarten to John Dewey High School in Coney Island I am public-school educated.

I had a great education. From kindergarten to John Dewey High School in Coney Island I am public-school educated.

My grandmother lived to be 100 years old. Her grandmother was a slave yet she was a college graduate in the Spellman class of 1917. She taught art for 50 years and she saved her Social Security checks for her children's education.

My grandmother lived to be 100 years old. Her grandmother was a slave yet she was a college graduate in the Spellman class of 1917. She taught art for 50 years and she saved her Social Security checks for her children's education.

Any film I do is not going to change the way black women have been portrayed or black people have been portrayed in cinema since the days of D.W. Griffith.

Any film I do is not going to change the way black women have been portrayed or black people have been portrayed in cinema since the days of D.W. Griffith.

I'd like to state that Spike Lee is not saying that African American culture is just for black people alone to enjoy and cherish. Culture is for everybody.

I'd like to state that Spike Lee is not saying that African American culture is just for black people alone to enjoy and cherish. Culture is for everybody.

We grew up in a very creative environment and were exposed to the arts at a very young age so it's not a surprise that all of us are in some form of the arts.

We grew up in a very creative environment and were exposed to the arts at a very young age so it's not a surprise that all of us are in some form of the arts.