I'm not offended if you call me an African American. I prefer a black American.
When you talk about me as a fighter, I like being known as a Mexican fighter. I think 'Mexican' or 'Hispanic' should be mentioned.
With the first novel, I was concerned I would be pigeon-holed as an Asian-American writer, and the book would be labeled for Asian-Americans only.
I am African-American, and I am a proud African-American. I just don't like to put myself in a box and say, 'I'm an African-American actress.' I am an American actress, and I can do any kind of role.
I'm an American; I'm not an African-American. I'm an American.
Most of all, I dislike this idea nowadays that if you're a black person in America, then you must be called African-American. Listen, I've visited Africa, and I've got news for everyone: I'm not an African.
If someone were to call me 'the next Amy Tan,' it would not be because - or not primarily because - we have similar themes or subjects or styles. Let's be honest: it would be because we are both Chinese American.
It's not at all my objective to become an Asian-American star.
I don't call myself Latin, I call myself Puerto Rican.
I don't understand how they can call me anti-Latino, when I've made four movies in Mexico.
I don't want to be the Asian filmmaker; I just want to be a filmmaker. I want to be Spielberg. I want to be Tim Burton.
