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.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the lack of authentic representation of black gay characters in media.
Lena Waithe expresses a feeling of disconnection with black gay characters portrayed on television, suggesting that while they may be visible, they are often not relatable or fully developed, instead serving merely as set pieces rather than complex individuals with genuine stories. This highlights the broader issue of representation in media, where diversity may be present, but true representation and depth can often be lacking.
In practice
During a panel discussion on diversity in media.
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?'
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.
I don't want to be white. I don't want to be straight. I don't want to blend in.
I love being able to reach people directly, but in an ideal scenario, I would not have to rush the release of new music⦠but the message is still there.
In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality.
Making movies is both entirely ludicrous and incredibly hard. It's a preposterous way to spend your time. You give up a lot for the privilege of doing it, and one of the things you get are relationships of immense trust that you see forged in situations of immense stress.
I never approved of talkies. Silent movies were well on their way to developing an entirely new art form. It was not just pantomine, but something wonderfully expressive.
It took me two years to walk around a chair with ease; it took me another two years to learn how to laugh onstage - and I had to learn everything.
Know what the old masters did. Know how they composed their pictures, but do not fall into the conventions they established. These conventions were right for them, and they are wonderful. They made their language. You make yours. All the past can help you.
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