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 βSimilar quotes
For me, music is always the language which permits one to converse with the Beyond.
Writers are opposite of athletes, they get better with age
I was particularly proud of my performance as the Joker. I considered it a piece of pop art.
As artists, we have an opportunity to help the public evolve, raise consciousness and awareness, teach, heal, enlighten and inspire in ways the democratic process may not be able to touch. So we keep it moving.
Popular culture isn't a freeze-frame; it is images zapping by in rapid-fire succession, which is why collage is such an effective way of representing contemporary life. The blur between images creates a kind of motion in the mind.
In improvisation, there are no mistakes.