Quotes from Michael K. Williams

God has blessed me. I've been given a lot. I'm at peace with myself. It's time to give back.

Doing something that warrants the attention of the President of the United States is super cool.

I have a very healthy appetite for good writing and good characters. Having weak writing is my biggest fear.

My thing is to gain the respect as an actor, as a professional, and the friendship and everything else will happen from there.

I grew up in East Flatbush in Brooklyn which was an intense neighbourhood filled with different West Indian cultures.

I use my job to engage empathy and compassion for people society might stereotype or ostricise.

My only goal is to stay focused on my craft and make sure my life is as sharp as it can be to attack any character that is given to me.

I'm totally comfortable today with the success that Omar and 'The Wire' have brought me - living with that character, being recognized and remembered for that character.

'The Wire' is very realistic and based on real events.

If you've ever felt oppressed on any level, there's something from 'The Wire' that you can take and identify with.

I came out the womb dancing.

My job is to bring to life the character, not to put the words on the paper.

Music's been part of my entire life. It's in my DNA.

The arts saved my life.

People say they love the characters I've chosen in my career. But I didn't choose anything. I just happened to be working and these were offered to me.

I haven't had a problem with being typecast, but if I was only getting one type of role, I wouldn't mind. What I'm worried about is not working.

People misconstrue when I say I was a dancer. I was not classically trained. I was a street dancer, and I got to do what I did in the nightclubs of New York City.

Our criminal justice system has swallowed up too many people I love. I am proud to join the ACLU in the fight to make mass incarceration a thing of the past.

No one wakes up one day and decides they want to become a drug dealer or they want to be a stick-up kid. Those decisions are made after a series of events have happened in one's life.

I do happen to love Honey Nut Cheerios. I don't know if I want to walk down to the store in my pajamas for them. But I do love them.

You know, Tupac is very near and dear to my heart. He started my career as an actor.

You know, my childhood was pretty colorful; I like to use the word 'turbulent.'

Having been through the muck and mire, I've had my own brush with bad choices.

My dream role is to portray someone like James Baldwin. I've always been a fan of his writing, and I feel like he's one of our unsung heroes. He's been pretty much forgotten, and I think he needs to be recognized. He had to go all the way to Europe to find recognition and acceptance, and I'd just like to bring him to the forefront.