Quotes About Representation

Any politician in a democracy has to be mindful of public opinion.

I hope that folks that look like me, regardless candidly of their political affiliation, not only look at me and say that, you know, I want to vote for him at the ballot box, but also make the decision that perhaps they want to put their name up for public service and for public office.

I didn't like my hair and makeup one time on a photo shoot, and my publicist told me, 'You should just be happy with it - they haven't had a black girl on the cover since forever.' She's no longer my publicist.

I still don't have a publicist. If I'm in a film, you have an obligation to promote it, I'll do as much as I can.

I have people introducing themselves to me: 'I am your publicist; what can I do for you?' But I have never learned how to use a publicist.

You go through publicists because it's easy for a publicist to say to another publicist, 'No'.

No one should ever feel obliged to speak or to put themselves out publicly online, but I do think it's a good thing to do. The more of us who are women, making our work and just going 'Here I am, here's my work,' the easier it gets for everybody. It's a good thing to do.

I'm fortunate that I have a female publisher, and her boss is a man of color. My world is a little more diverse, but the majority of the business is not diverse at all.

I think that a really good agent should be able to get the right publisher, which the agent has already figured out, get as much money as she can from that publisher, and make a deal, rather than have the amount of money determine the sale. That's what the best agents do.

Maybe just as many women writers as male writers could be billed as the next great American writer by their publisher. Maybe book criticism sections could review an equal amount of female and male writers. Maybe Oprah could start putting some books by women authors in her book club, since most of her audience is women.

Agents are deal makers, and they're really, really good at making deals. But they're also exceptionally helpful after the deal is made - agents act as a good intermediary between authors and publishers whenever disagreements come up.

The big publishers want someone they can send on the Jewish book circuit, somebody the old ladies can see marrying their granddaughters.

Any anxieties publishers have about putting a child on the front cover of a book who isn't white is very old fashioned.

I think what we need, especially in publishing, is more commissioning editors and editors who are people of colour.

We need more people working in the publishing industry itself who are people of colour.

For the most part, it's straight white men running these labels and publishing companies.

Johnson Publishing has been built on filling a need for African-Americans. This is what's happening with E Style. There was nothing that addressed the specific needs of African-American women.

If you go to a big publishing house, editorial aside, it's completely white.

Puerto Rico's participation per capita in the armed forces is more than most states, yet they can't vote for their commander in chief.

Certain roles for older women are aimed at certain older actresses - I'm not one of those. I've been offered any number of Puerto Rican grandmas that I've turned down.

At one point, I bought brown contacts because people told me I wasn't Latin enough to play Latin, and I'm Puerto Rican. I went and bought brown contacts just so I could go in and look more Latino... but that was something that I've dealt with in this business.

I'm Puerto Rican, but I represent everybody.

I think it's amazing that I can go out there and be myself, and the fact that I'm carrying Puerto Rico on my back a little bit is such an honor.

As U.S. citizens, Puerto Rico has paid their part.