Working with Angela Bassett is by far the best. I've watched and

The actor Lance Gross once spoke these words with reverence and humility: “Working with Angela Bassett is by far the best. I’ve watched and admired her for years. I’m very intrigued by her work. She’s so cool. I still call her ‘Mom’ when I see her.” At first, they may seem simple words of affection for a colleague, but beneath them lies a truth of deep ancestral wisdom — a truth about admiration, mentorship, and the sacred bond between generations of artists and seekers. For in calling her “Mom,” Gross speaks not just of personal affection, but of respect for those who came before, the elders who light the path for those who follow.

To admire is not to worship blindly; it is to recognize greatness and allow it to shape one’s own becoming. Gross’s words remind us that true growth is never born in isolation. Every artist, every thinker, every builder of dreams is part of a lineage — a continuous thread woven through time. When he speaks of Angela Bassett with awe, he speaks the ancient language of disciples and masters, students and teachers, the language that built temples, crafted philosophies, and sustained civilizations. To admire rightly is to say, “I see what is divine in you, and I aspire to awaken it in myself.”

The origin of this wisdom stretches far beyond the modern world. In the days of the ancients, the young would sit at the feet of the wise, listening not only to their words but to their silence — for the spirit of the teacher was as powerful as their teaching. So too does Lance Gross, through his humility, reveal that greatness is learned by observing the great. In Angela Bassett, he sees not only skill and mastery, but grace — the quiet authority that comes from one who has endured, who has risen again and again with dignity unshaken. She is not merely a performer; she is a matriarch of her craft, carrying within her the legacy of all who came before her and inspiring all who follow.

Angela Bassett herself stands as a symbol of strength and excellence. Her portrayals — fierce queens, grieving mothers, warriors of spirit — reflect the depth of the human soul. She brings to her art the same fire that burned in the hearts of the ancient griots of Africa, who told the stories of their people so that memory would never die. When Lance Gross calls her “Mom,” he honors that lineage — the mother as creator, protector, and storyteller. His words remind us that mentorship is sacred, for through it, the wisdom of one generation becomes the courage of the next.

Consider, for a moment, the tale of Alexander the Great and his teacher Aristotle. The young conqueror, though destined for power, never forgot the hand that guided his mind. He said that while his father gave him life, Aristotle gave him reason — and thus, immortality. So too does Gross’s reverence echo this truth: that the one who shapes your spirit deserves the gratitude of kinship. Whether in art, in scholarship, or in daily life, those who mentor us become our spiritual parents, nurturing the soul’s unfolding.

But there is also humility in Gross’s words — the humility of one who knows that greatness cannot exist without gratitude. To call another “Mom” is to acknowledge that you did not rise alone, that your achievements were nourished by the strength and example of others. This humility is the foundation of all enduring success. For the arrogant man climbs swiftly but stands alone at the summit, while the grateful one ascends with the support of an entire lineage — and when he looks back, he sees not isolation but family.

The lesson, then, is clear: honor those who shaped you. Speak their names with reverence. Whether they are mentors, parents, teachers, or heroes you have never met — acknowledge their influence. Seek wisdom from those who have walked before you, and when your time comes, become that source of strength for others. For the river that forgets its source will run dry, but the river that remembers flows eternal.

So, let these words of Lance Gross echo in your heart: “She’s so cool. I still call her ‘Mom.’” They are not mere sentiment, but a hymn to gratitude, lineage, and respect. Live your life in the same spirit — honor your mentors, celebrate their greatness, and carry their light forward. For this is how the fire of humanity endures — passed from one soul to another, from generation to generation, until the world itself glows with the brilliance of shared devotion.