Your past is your shadow. It has form but no substance, except in the places you allow it to touch you. (
I believe black characters in fiction are still revolutionary, given our long history of erasure.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The inclusion of black characters in fiction challenges historical narratives and reflects on cultural representation.
Tananarive Due highlights the importance of black characters in literature and fiction, suggesting that their presence is not just a narrative choice but a revolutionary act against a backdrop of historical erasure. This assertion reflects the ongoing struggle for representation and recognition of black voices and experiences in storytelling, indicating that these characters can powerfully challenge societal norms and expectations.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a literary conference discussing diversity in publishing, this quote could be used to emphasize the importance of representation.
More from Tananarive Due
All quotes →Similar quotes
Nothing is more odious than music without hidden meaning.
Ah, bien je prétends que les courbes des quatre areêtes du monument, telles que le calcul les a fournies, donneront une grand impression de force et de beauté._x000D_ _x000D_ Well, I think the curves of the four pillars of the monument, as the calculations have provided them, give it a great sense of force and beauty.
The power of fantasy is that you can make people understand the deeper realities of our world in a way that they wouldn't normally be able to because of all the things in our world that closes them off.
The main thing that I learned from editing is that most people, when they're making a film, they start too early into the story. They will try to set up the characters, they will try to establish things before the plot actually starts.
If you find yourself asking yourself (and your friends), "Am I really a writer? Am I really an artist?" chances are you are. The counterfeit innovator is wildly self-confident. The real one is scared to death.
Don't worry about how pretty (the story) sounds, how lilting it is, and the imagery, and the metaphor, all that. Most readers don't care. It's the people in your book that matter.