Even if you meet the perfect person, it ain’t gonna be at the perfect time. You’re married, they’re single. That’s right. You’re Jewish, they’re Palestinian. You’re a Mexican, they’re a raccoon. You’re a black woman, he’s a black man.
Chris RockRead
I realized with Broadway everything written for black people is usually written in the past, and I'm kind of a contemporary guy. I don't think you want to see me in 'Raisin in the Sun'.
Interpretation
Chris Rock emphasizes the need for contemporary representation of black experiences in Broadway.
In this quote, Chris Rock expresses his frustration with the way Broadway tends to portray black characters and stories as historical or outdated. He believes that contemporary black voices and stories should be showcased, reflecting the current realities and experiences of black individuals, rather than being confined to past narratives that may not resonate with today's audiences.
In practice
During a panel discussion on diversity in theater, I might reference this quote to highlight the need for modern stories about black experiences.
Even if you meet the perfect person, it ain’t gonna be at the perfect time. You’re married, they’re single. That’s right. You’re Jewish, they’re Palestinian. You’re a Mexican, they’re a raccoon. You’re a black woman, he’s a black man.
I kind of keep my personality in my pocket a lot. When I start to do stand-up, that's not my true personality either. It's the personality of a guy who hasn't been able to say what he wanted to say.
There's some downsides to being famous, which are not even worth mentioning. But to combat the bad sides of being famous, you really should take advantage of the good sides. The good sides are, you can use that fame to get projects you might not normally get.
If you want to prevent abortions, you make sure everyone has health care, a high school education and birth control. Not the exact opposite.
Happy white peoples independence day the slaves weren't free but I'm sure they enjoyed fireworks.
Karaoke isn't fair when you're a comedian. The whole idea is to get people laughing and enjoying themselves, and I'm a professional funny guy.
I don't care if it's a mystery story, a Western, or the story of Julius Caesar. To me it's the emotion, the lies, the double-cross, whether it's Brutus doing it to Caesar or Bob Stack doing it to Robert Ryan that defines what kind of drama it is.
You can't expect someone born into a family with no music... to understand when I'm conducting the Schoenberg Variations.
There was always a part of me that wanted to be an old-time director. But I couldn't do that. I'm not a pro.
A great work of art is one that truly moves and inspires you. You yourself must be moved. Don't look at art with others' eyes. Don't listen to music with others' ears. You must react to art with your own feelings, your own heart and mind.
Poetry is often the art of overhearing yourself say things you didn't know you knew. It is a learned skill to force yourself to articulate your life, your present world or your possibilities for the future.
What you have in your head, put down on paper. The head is a fragile vessel.
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