We as artists cannot be politicians. We as artists can only be truth-tellers.

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I don't have any time to stay up all night worrying about what someone who doesn't love me has to say about me.

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I think sometimes you have to see a physical manifestation of your dream. Otherwise you have to hope, pray and try to conjure something in your mind to feel like it's possible.

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I think that you always want to gravitate towards people who absolutely are great at what they do and go for authenticity.

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You can't be hesitant about who you are.

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Anything can be achieved with a good, healthy dose of courage.

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Let me tell you something: The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.

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And that's what people want to see when they go to the theater. I believe at the end of the day, they want to see themselves - parts of their lives they can recognize. And I feel if I can achieve that, it's pretty spectacular.

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I’m a black woman who is from Central Falls, Rhode Island. I’m dark skinned. I’m quirky. I’m shy. I’m strong. I’m guarded. I’m weak at times. I’m sensual. I’m not overtly sexual. I am so many things in so many ways and I will never see myself on screen. And the reason I will never see myself up on screen is because that does not translate with being black.

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They say, 'To serve is to love,' and I think to serve is to heal, too.

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