Quotes

Gentrification is a problem of poor planning.

People are taking a second look at Compton or rethinking what they believed to be true. Even the rap stars who helped established Compton's reputation worldwide are older now, and even their images have evolved.

The Resource Center will be able to map all of the resources in and around the Compton community while providing customized assistance that will be a vital asset to improving our ability to service our youth, adults, and families.

Children in urban communities suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome in higher proportions than veterans, and they need therapeutic outlets, which arts and drama has proven to provide.

Thank you to Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Universal Studios, and the Grammys for telling the story of what Compton was and is becoming.

The majority of people, especially young people, know Dr. Dre because of Beats by Dre, not necessarily from him being a rap artist.

We're asking that the Compton citizens have a zero tolerance policy against violence.

I was raised by a single mother. We were definitely below the median income of our area.

To relax, I love sitting back and turning my brain off and watching TV.

I love the powerful woman who's complicated. There's no push to be one thing or another thing. It's all human. That's what you look for as an actor: characters written and portrayed in the most human way possible.

Strength doesn't mean an absence of pain.

We all have our family issues from time to time.

It was a given at UCSB that if there was a role that called for a person of color, it was going to be handed to me. There were certain times when maybe I didn't try as hard. Going to Yale was a way more diverse experience.

There are people who do what they believe is right, but as they say, 'The road to hell is paved with good intentions.'

Not everyone's high standards have to be the same thing.

I've never given my phone number to someone on the street, but when someone is a gentleman, I appreciate the compliments.

I can be just a touch controlling!

If I had a free afternoon, I would play music, sit in my backyard, and drink coffee.

I have a lovely light blue Kate Spade wallet. It has pockets for many credit cards, business cards, health insurance cards, and a Burke Williams card for when I want to go to the spa!

I think it's well-known that I love all things ABC and Shonda Rhimes - I'm a huge 'Scandal' and 'Grey's Anatomy' fan.

Not to say there's not good TV out there, but I think TV is better when it accurately reflects the world as it is.

TV is such a great medium in what it can do in terms of enlightening an audience. We can really inspire and teach people about other people. That's a powerful tool, and that's something that the arts has always been capable of doing.

Back when people couldn't read, other people would take newspapers and turn them into theater so that people would know what was going on in the world. That is a powerful thing.

I really care about people, and I would need someone to also genuinely value other human beings and want to be connected with people in the world and to know about other cultures. That might not be a high standard for someone else, but for me, it's really important to try and stick to that.

Words can't describe how one would feel in that moment after doing a test for something you really want but in your heart you don't think you have a chance of getting.