The key to empowerment is no more complicated than what Jesse Jackson said, 'We are somebody.' But the 'We are somebody' I would like to be in the larger sense: not just the urban African-American but homo sapiens in general - We are somebody. Melvin Van Peebles More Quotes by Melvin Van Peebles More Quotes From Melvin Van Peebles You have to not let yourself believe you can't. Do what you can do within the framework of what you have, and don't look outside - look inside. Melvin Van Peebles yourself look you believe When I got to Paris, they welcomed me and showed my films. It was August of 1960, and I didn't have a penny in my pocket. But they had done something very dangerous: They had given me encouragement. Melvin Van Peebles me dangerous encouragement done No one - black, white, or any different - walks away from a three-picture deal with a studio. That's every filmmaker's dream. But it wasn't mine. Melvin Van Peebles black different white dream When I was in the Air Force, if I walked into a restaurant, in about eight or nine minutes the M.P.'s would show up and drag me out because someone had called saying that someone was impersonating an officer. Melvin Van Peebles restaurant saying someone me I didn't even know I had a legacy. Melvin Van Peebles had even know legacy I do what I want to do. Melvin Van Peebles want Blacks had a huge role in settling the West, but you'd never know it from Western movies. Melvin Van Peebles movies never know you I said to my kids, 'Learn the business of America if you want to be an artist in America. The rest of that stuff, the art part, you could pick up in an hour and a half.' Melvin Van Peebles rest you business art It wasn't really me who invented rap. I stole the idea from Aristide Bruant. Melvin Van Peebles really who me rap I'm too short to play basketball and too nervous to steal. Melvin Van Peebles short nervous basketball play Don't ask me something if you don't want to know. Because I will tell you. Melvin Van Peebles will know me you Why not have fun, man? If I feel like doing something, I just go ahead and do it. Melvin Van Peebles have-fun feel man fun I intend to stay dangerous. Melvin Van Peebles intend stay dangerous If you look down a barrel of a gun... you don't forget it. Melvin Van Peebles look you gun forget In trying to cross over to the mainstream, some people stopped writing what they witnessed. Melvin Van Peebles some-people writing trying people It must be horrible to do things that you don't like hoping to please other people, and they don't like it either, and you've got to eat it. Melvin Van Peebles eat things you people I'm not a normal director. You can't look at me that way. What's kept me alive is my technical skill at doing other things. Melvin Van Peebles look me you way With 'Sweetback,' I just put it together a little bit at a time. I didn't do it on anybody's grant. I did it like any other young executive - by cheating and stealing! Melvin Van Peebles like together time cheating I've never been to film school. I had to leave this country to make a film. All they would let me do in Hollywood was be a messenger. Melvin Van Peebles never me country school My first feature, I made in France. There's a great respect for the author there - they don't change your stuff. Melvin Van Peebles your great respect change
