Spike Lee

"Because many 'advances' have happened, we've lost the urgency-and that's just human nature-that we had before, when we couldn't vote, couldn't use mass transportation, or drink from the fountains".

"It comes down to this: black people were stripped of their identities when they were brought here, and it's been a quest since then to define who we are".

"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".