Every black man in Chicago walks through the world differently, and I think what young black boys do is observe, and that's what gives them their road map.
Interpretation
The experiences of black men shape their perspectives, influencing how young black boys navigate their own lives.
Lena Waithe's quote emphasizes the unique journeys of black men in Chicago and how their observations of the world around them serve as a guide for young black boys. It highlights the importance of understanding one's environment and the experiences of those who came before in order to navigate the complexities of life.
In practice
Discussing personal growth in a community meeting.
As a black woman in the industry, you really do have to hold your head higher, stick your chest out, be kind and polite and generous even when you don't want to be sometimes. I learned that and, also, just to never take no for an answer.
Being a black lesbian myself, I roll my eyes a little bit when I see black lesbian characters on shows where it's purely there for decoration. You can just hear it in the writers room... 'What if we make her a lesbian?'
It's weird because I see black gay characters on television all the time, but do I relate to them? Not always, because they're set pieces.
The cool thing about dope black style becoming in style is that the industry has no choice but to try and reduplicate that.
For me, it's about making art that's not good but phenomenal. James Baldwin didn't want to just stay above the fray. Prince didn't think, 'I wonder what the industry is gonna think about 'Purple Rain.'' It's just, is this honest? Is this real? Does this move me? The rest is icing.
Being born gay, black, and female is not a revolutionary act. Being proud to be a gay black female is.
We're always looking over our shoulders, 'what they will think, what the press will think, what will this one - am I making the right career move?' When you're young you have to do all that to survive, I suppose.
When you're going through something, whether it's a wonderful thing like having a child or a sad thing like losing somebody, you often feel like 'Oh my God, I'm so overwhelmed; I'm dealing with this huge thing on my own.' In fact, poetry's a nice reminder that, no, everybody goes through it. These are universal experiences.
People look with sympathetic eyes only at the blossom and the fruit, and disregard the long period of transition during which the one is ripening into the other.
Sometimes I go, βWhat am I doing with my life?β But then I get letters from young women, or people come up to me, and they say, βYouβve made such a difference to my confidence.β And that is a good thing. I should read more fan mail though. Iβm crap at responding.
I have different hats; I'm a mother, I'm a woman, I'm a human being, I'm an artist and hopefully I'm an advocate. All of those plates are things I spin all the time.
Life ought to be a struggle of desire toward adventures whose nobility will fertilize the soul.
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