“Though I developed my own personal spiritual relationship later in life, the foundation they laid is what my faith was built upon.”

One or the other she was going to have by any means necessary.

Rosa Parks was primed, she had the Civil Rights Movement behind her, she didn’t just decide to sit on the bus, it was strategic.

I felt validated and valued , and here was this woman [Whoopi Goldberg ] inside my television screen who gave me a voice.

When that drone shot carried us through the main house with Rosalie, played so unflinchingly-brilliantly by Jurnee Smollett Bell, I signed on for the ride.

I had praying grandmothers who bathed me in “The Word” and filled the atmosphere with worship.

I walked away from the craft because I wanted to know that this is what I was supposed to do with my life.

That is a huge part of my excitement, the fact that this generation will get such a beautifully-detailed introduction to a hero and icon that has largely lived in a few pages of our history books and in one-dimensional photographs.

You know, to be completely disgusted with injustice to the point that you will have to take some huge leaps of faith. And it may take one person leading many.

Harriet Tubman is the perpetuation of a “Super Soul Sunday” every day.

Harriet Tubman didn’t have strategy meetings or a movement behind her, she was the movement.

I went on to be inspired by many other artists and forms of art, and was soon directed to a place that would help harness my experiences and develop my voice within the craft, LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts in New York City.

I think we’re in a time that calls for that level of courage, that level of resolve.

I almost believe that Harriet Tubman asked God for a leave like, “I’m gonna need to go back down there and take care of some things. They’re in trouble.”

[Harriet Tubman] spoke passionately about her parents, her friends, shared stories about her childhood.

[I want to be remembered] as a small piece of the puzzle sent here to serve a bigger picture.

So that when it was time to shoot I could hopefully exhale [ Harriet Tubman ].