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.
The pleasure of writing fiction is that you are always spotting some new approach, an alternative way of telling a story and manipulating characters; the novel is such a wonderfully flexible form.
Writers collect stories of rituals: John Cheever putting on a jacket and tie to go down to the basement, where he kept a desk near the boiler room. Keats buttoning up his clean white shirt to write in, after work.
There is no art without intention.
As far as I'm concerned, the entire reason for becoming a writer is not having to get up in the morning.
I write in a noisy, distracting world so the books can be read there.
Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
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