I love America the way I love my family - I was born into it. And there's no escape out of it.

I was born in West Baltimore, lived in a situation in which violence was everywhere.

I love people. I was born loving people.

I was born into a family of preachers.

I love living around black people. Home is home. We suffer under racism and the physical deprivations that come with that, but beneath that, we form cultures and traditions that are beautiful.

I was born in America, but I consider myself a Filipino.