When people think of the South Side of Chicago, they don't think about where I'm from. It was sort of a pocket: this idyllic community of black people who took care of each other, knew each other, spent time with each other.

If you think you aren't valid for whatever reason, let my existence and the way the world embraces my existence tell you that you are valid. You deserve to look, live, and walk through the world however you see fit. That's why I find it extremely important to be so out, so black, and so myself.

Wearing one hoop earring and playing with the androgyny - that's who I am. That's what I like to do. And I feel the world should see that. I'm not going to put a shield up or be more feminine to make people feel comfortable.

There's a lot of Donald Glovers, Jordan Peeles, Justin Simiens. And there's a lot of me's, too.

All the writers for 'The Chi,' they're all phenomenal, so I'm just working on projects with them. They have great scripts.

There's so many other talented women of color who write funny things every day, and I want them to be recognized, I want them to have a seat at the table because we're out here.

I never want to feel too far away from people. I think that's when you get in trouble.

When you're not as accessible, you get in a tent and get in your own head, and you start doing things that are a little out of touch. I think we've seen it happen with certain artists... people can't touch them; they're not touching people. They're only touching people in their circle.

You have to write and develop and wait for the world to catch up to your art.

I don't need an Emmy to tell me to go to work. I've been working.

The thing for me is to always tell the truth. Not to preach, but to tell the truth.

I'm very grateful that I'm the kind of actor where I'm not some character actor. I can't disappear into a world.

I feel like I wanna have a series of moments. It's scary when they say you're having a moment, because moments are momentary.

I got into the business because I love writing. When it came down to finding my voice, which every writer has to take time to do, I think I realized I write black people very well. I write us in a very honest way, and I want to hear the way we really talk.

I'm a black woman, so I'm obviously not going to write something where women aren't at the forefront.

I think it's so trite to say you have lead characters. It's like someone saying I'm the lead in my life.

I actually don't like saying 'lead character,' which is an interesting thing. If you say there's a lead, then there has to be someone to follow.

Every black man in Chicago walks through the world differently, and I think what young black boys do is observe, and that's what gives them their road map.

Like 'Sex and the City' - if you're a New Yorker, you knew half the places they were going to. I want 'The Chi' to feel that way as well.

I just really want be proud of the work I'm doing, whether it's something I've written, produced, or am starring in. I just want to be proud of it.

I've never been a person that has had fear of, like, 'Oh, I don't want to be the poster child for all black lesbian women.' I don't know. I want to be someone in the public eye that they can be proud of.

I was such a fan of Aziz. I watched 'Parks and Rec' like every other self-respecting hipster and loved his character so much and just thought he was so interesting.

I'm a big fan of Nora Ephron, who believed everything is copy, and I agree.

I'm a huge fan of television, and the reason I'm a part of the world is because I'm a fan of it.