Quotes About Representation

Thinking I'd be in politics just wasn't something I'd thought of as a younger woman. There just weren't a lot of role models there.

You know, we never grew up with Asian American role models in the entertainment industry, unfortunately. I'd never seen an Asian face singing on TV.

One thing we do, to be inclusive, is that when we shoot campaigns, we ensure to do so with models of different body types, skin colors and with those hailing from different cultures.

People like me who are here in flyover country, we're tired of East Coast moderates.

There's a whole lot of America that looks at each other and says, 'Well, there's 340 million people living in America. Isn't there somebody other than a Bush or a Clinton who can be president in these modern times?'

I would love more stories with strong characters of color who don't always fit the mold that Hollywood has created in the past.

Sometimes you have to change the mold. If people keep following the same Hollywood mold, you're going to get the same thing. And as a Black actress, there's not a whole lot out there for us, unless we're creating it.

I was able to be influential and create a mold. There was no one else who was shaped like me or looked like me.

Films are deprived of the conventional elderly figures now. They are more into yo moms and dads.

Well, when did this become a monarchy? You know, we are the people. The president works for us and, you know, we need to remember that.

I'm curious when I look across the dial Monday through Friday, you know, where are the other female black anchors?

The first movie I ever saw was a blaxploitation movie. It was called 'Monkey Hustle.' Like I said, just listen to the name. That's a blaxploitation movie. It had these incredible, bigger-than-life images of people who looked like I did. Or who looked like I wanted to look like.

That's a win for me, for people to be able to say, 'Faith, fatherhood, monogamy exists in hip-hop.'

Labour doesn't have a monopoly on non-white people.

When I was growing up, we didn't have 'Will & Grace.' The one gay character was Monroe from 'Too Close For Comfort' - and he wasn't even gay! At least they didn't say he was. Same with Mr. Furley from 'Three's Company.' You know, these were the characters that people would always make fun of.

You're going to relegate my history to a month.

If you only think of me during Black History Month, I must be failing as an educator and as an astrophysicist.

I hope all of you are going to fill out your census form when it comes in the mail next month. If you don't return the form the area you live in might get less government money and you wouldn't want that to happen, would you.

When I say there should not be a BET channel or a Black History Month, I'm saying we deserve more. I just hope people understand that I'm not judging; I'm coming from experience.

I grew up watching people and companies commercialize Black History Month. I watched old McDonald's commercials, and they'd blacken up the commercials for 28 days then go back to normal in March. It got annoying to me.

I lived the journey of Miss India for one month with beautiful girls from 29 other states from across the country, and then lived another month-long journey with girls from 120 countries for Miss World.

Until 'Moonlight,' I had never seen one black man cook for another on screen. But I wanted the characters to be free of 'groundbreaking' or 'never before.' We were ascribed those things. They weren't the point.

I want to make sure the cooking industry becomes more and more diverse.

I'm finding that I'm working with more and more Latino artists, and that's exciting.