Getting past my past... was a process, a very serious process indeed.

Boy, it is not fun suffering in this body of weak flesh, but Jesus is straightening out all my crooked places.

I don't listen to my old music of Vanity's unless I have to hear it playing in a mall or something place like that.

People think stars never have any problems or cares. That's bull. Why would we show any more than one mask to the public. There's a whole lotta things I've done that I don't want to think about. But I bring it all right out when I need it for a role.

You desire that which exceeds my humble powers, but I trust in the compassion and mercy of the All-powerful God.

I'm riding my man Obama. I think he's a visionary. Actually, Barack told me the first date he took Michelle to was 'Do the Right Thing.' I said, Thank God I made it. Otherwise you would have taken her to 'Soul Man.' Michelle would have been like 'What's wrong with this brother?'

When I decided to write 'The God of Small Things', I had been working in cinema. It was almost a decision to downshift from there. I thought that 300 people would read it. But it created a platform of trust.

The power that religion has is that you think nothing is random: If there's a tragedy in my life, that's God testing me or sending me a message.