Quotes from John David Washington

Spike Lee's been doing it for a long time now. We're all standing on his shoulders.

Spike Lee really gave us a platform, men and women of color.

So many people - DPs, writers, and the assistants that go on to be directors and writers - come from the School of Spike Lee. He's almost set up an Institution of Spike Lee.

I felt a little anxious/nervous representing a real person in a Spike Lee film.

I think, culturally, stories are important, whether it be cinema, whether it be by word of mouth - which I don't even know if we do anymore, as it all seems to be social media.

I would tell people my dad was all the characters he's played in movies, because once you say he's a lawyer or something, they move on.

Like acting, undercover detective work requires a lot of performance. There's just more pressure because it's life-or-death situations.

On a Spike Lee set, everybody seems to want to be there and is motivated to work in unison and do the best they can.

My mom had an encounter with the KKK when she was, I think, 7 years old in North Carolina. She snuck into a cross burning. I'm so lucky she didn't get caught, because I wouldn't be here.

Football was the best route to obtain my independence.

I want to be around people that are just as enthusiastic about the process and storytelling as I am.

Coming from a football background, when everybody is doing their job and operating on such a high level, it only motivates you to do the same.