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.
It will take all your heart, it will take all your breath It will be short, it will not be simple
You can't be afraid of getting old. Old is good, if you're gathering in life. Our band is good at understanding that equation.
Donβt you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms.
You write your life story by the choices you make.
I've gotten to go to far-off places in the world, have very unique, isolated, intense experiences for four or five months at a time, and then, kind of like a dream, those things disappear. You may see those people again, but it's never, ever going to be as intense as it was for that time period.
But this time I'm not to blame; I want you to believe that. I simply slipped into those violets. No, I want to be really truthful. I am a little to blame. The sky, you know, was gold, and the ground all blue, and for a moment he looked like some one in a book.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.