Lena Waithe Quotes

The cool thing about dope black style becoming in style is that the industry has no choice but to try and reduplicate that.

- Lena Waithe

Cool, Becoming, About, No Choice

I loved 'The Wizard Of Oz.' It was, like, you know how some kids, they're crying, and they put on - people put on 'Frozen' to get them to chill and just be quiet? For my family, it was 'The Wizard Of Oz.' They would literally tell babysitters, if she gets - like, if she starts misbehaving or she starts acting crazy, just put 'The Wizard Of Oz' on.

- Lena Waithe

Chill, Tell, Some, Wizard Of Oz

I'm proud to carry that torch and be like, 'I'm gay! I'm black! Hang your dreams on me. Hang your hopes on me. I'll carry them to the best of my ability.'

- Lena Waithe

Proud, Like, Hang, Torch

I've never been a person that has had fear of, like, 'Oh, I don't want to be the poster child for all black lesbian women.' I don't know. I want to be someone in the public eye that they can be proud of.

- Lena Waithe

Proud, Like, Been, Public Eye

I sort of knew very early on that I wanted to be a writer. Even in high school, I was a big movie buff, very much into TV shows, and would critique them.

- Lena Waithe

Big, Very, TV, Big Movie

Like 'Sex and the City' - if you're a New Yorker, you knew half the places they were going to. I want 'The Chi' to feel that way as well.

- Lena Waithe

New, Like, Half, Sex And The City

There's a lot of Donald Glovers, Jordan Peeles, Justin Simiens. And there's a lot of me's, too.

- Lena Waithe

Lot, Donald, Too, Jordan

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.

- Lena Waithe

Think, Through, I Think, Map

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?'

- Lena Waithe

I See, Roll, Purely, Decoration

I always love where I can plug a black woman in anywhere, and when that comes up, I don't say, 'Oh that has to be a black woman.' I say, 'Why not a black woman?'

- Lena Waithe

Love, Woman, Always, Why Not

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.

- Lena Waithe

Industry, About, James, Phenomenal

All the writers for 'The Chi,' they're all phenomenal, so I'm just working on projects with them. They have great scripts.

- Lena Waithe

Projects, Them, Chi, Phenomenal

Growing up, I didn't just watch 'The Cosby Show.' I watched 'Growing Pains' and 'Family Ties,' too.

- Lena Waithe

Growing, Show, Pains, Family Ties

I'm not asking for there to be all black writer's rooms or all Asian writer's rooms, or all white - I want them all to be diverse. When it's diverse, you're going to have a completely different dynamic. Everybody feels othered. Nobody feels like they've got the upper hand.

- Lena Waithe

Everybody, Feels, Rooms, Upper Hand

It was a symbolic moment when 'Moonlight' literally took the Oscar out of 'La La Land's' hand.

- Lena Waithe

Symbolic, Took, Oscar, La

I can't stop my comedic voice.

- Lena Waithe

Voice, Stop, Comedic

My family still lives in Chicago: my mother, my sister, my nephew, my family is there. So even though I am not living there, I feel very close to it, and I visit very often.

- Lena Waithe

Living, Very, Still, Nephew

I think once 'Empire' hit, there was a lot of bad black TV that followed, because we work in the business of hit-seekers and copycats, so they're like, 'Oh this is a show about black people; this is about music, OK let's do a version of that.' And, of course, it doesn't work because it's not organic.

- Lena Waithe

Bad, I Think, TV, Organic

There's so many other talented women of color who write funny things every day, and I want them to be recognized, I want them to have a seat at the table because we're out here.

- Lena Waithe

Color, Here, Other, Table

I feel like I've accomplished a lot, but for me, it's about pushing to the point where I can be Mark Walhberg, Ryan Murphy, or Shonda Rhimes. I want to be at that table in terms of bringing new voices in.

- Lena Waithe

Feel, About, Ryan, Table

With 'The Chi,' it's me observing my own city and also pulling some things from themes I've dealt with in my life.

- Lena Waithe

My Life, Some, Chi, Observing

Maybe some young girl seeing me on the Emmy stage may have meant something for them.

- Lena Waithe

Some, May, Meant, Emmy

I don't need an Emmy to tell me to go to work. I've been working.

- Lena Waithe

Work, Need, Been, Emmy

I love Sarah Jessica Parker. What's not to like?

- Lena Waithe

Love, I Love, Jessica, Parker

I remember going to 'The Wood' and leaving my friend and my mom, who I came with, to go sit in the front row because I was so excited.

- Lena Waithe

I Remember, Excited, Going, Wood

I am always searching for something different or something fresh, something hasn't been done. But the truth is, at the end of the day, we're all sort of retelling something. We're doing a version of something that's already been done.

- Lena Waithe

Doing, Always, Been, Fresh

I love basketball! When I'm flying, and I have on sweats, a hat, and sneakers, people always assume that I'm a high school kid going to an away game. And I always say no, I'm a fan of the game.

- Lena Waithe

Love, Game, Always, Assume

The reason I get so excited about 'Master of None' is because it's showing people of color as regular people.

- Lena Waithe

Color, Reason, Excited, Regular

To be a black person is to come from a long bloodline of survivors and storytellers, with a resilience that people can't even comprehend.

- Lena Waithe

Black, Come, Comprehend, Storytellers

One of my favorites is 'Parks and Recreation.' Great show; awesome writing; beautiful, diverse cast. They also have a very diverse writer's room, which I love.

- Lena Waithe

Love, Favorites, Which, Diverse

Somebody could look at me and go, 'She's dressed black,' or 'She's behaving in the stereotypical way of a black lesbian.' But this is how I feel most comfortable. This is my authentic self. I want the freedom to be that regardless of how someone interprets it.

- Lena Waithe

Feel, How, Stereotypical, Lesbian

Talk to any black person in my age group, and they'll say 'A Different World' is why they went to college. The show literally changed my life, and it boggles my mind that it doesn't get the kind of love it deserves.

- Lena Waithe

Love, College, My Life, Group

I'm writing my story so that others might see fragments of themselves.

- Lena Waithe

Writing, See, Might, Fragments

I think that for the most part, black people specifically have sort of been used as props in TV shows as a way to move story along or as a way to make things more entertaining.

- Lena Waithe

Think, Been, TV, Specifically

I had a lot of great bosses - I worked for Gina Prince-Bythewood for two years, I worked for Ava Duvernay as a PA on her first narrative film, and I worked with Mara Brock Akil, so a lot of wonderful role models.

- Lena Waithe

Two, Role, Had, Pa

I love a web series. But to me, it does the girl in Detroit a disservice who just watches television. It does a disservice to the girl on the south side of Chicago who doesn't go online.

- Lena Waithe

Love, Watches, Side, Detroit

It's always been my intention to never be boxed in. I never like to do something that it feels like I've done before.

- Lena Waithe

Always, Been, Feels, Boxed

I actually really liked 'The Help.' I know that may not be a popular thing, but I thought it was a solid film. It wasn't 'Roots.' It wasn't 'The Color Purple.' But you couldn't pick it apart in terms of storytelling, and I thought the characters were well written.

- Lena Waithe

Color, Thought, Storytelling, Apart

The truth is, for me, when I was a young black girl who knew I was different, was watching TV, I would always be staring at the TV set looking for myself, and I didn't see me. And when you don't see yourself, you start to think that you don't matter, or you start to think that something is wrong with you.

- Lena Waithe

Young, Matter, TV, Staring

For me, my brand is good storytelling.

- Lena Waithe

Good, Me, Storytelling, Brand

I just really want be proud of the work I'm doing, whether it's something I've written, produced, or am starring in. I just want to be proud of it.

- Lena Waithe

Work, Proud, Doing, Produced

I think the stakes are always high when you're an artist of color - to get things right, to get things perfect and make everybody happy.

- Lena Waithe

Think, Always, Everybody, Stakes

I've known I was gay since I was young, I think. And I mean young - like, young - like 5 or 6. I think most gay people or queer people know there's something different about them very early, but I didn't know what to call it.

- Lena Waithe

I Think, Very, Queer, Gay

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.

- Lena Waithe

Television, Always, Set, Gay

Being born gay, black, and female is not a revolutionary act. Being proud to be a gay black female is.

- Lena Waithe

Proud, Act, Revolutionary, Gay

I'm a black woman, so I'm obviously not going to write something where women aren't at the forefront.

- Lena Waithe

Woman, Black, Going, Forefront

I'm a big fan of Nora Ephron, who believed everything is copy, and I agree.

- Lena Waithe

Big, Fan, Big Fan, Believed

It took me forever to leave Chicago. I went to Columbia College because I wasn't ready to leave! My professors had to kick me in the pants to move to Los Angeles.

- Lena Waithe

College, Move, Took, Los Angeles

Wearing one hoop earring and playing with the androgyny - that's who I am. That's what I like to do. And I feel the world should see that. I'm not going to put a shield up or be more feminine to make people feel comfortable.

- Lena Waithe

Feel, Feminine, Shield, Earring

People always go, 'Damn, how you got all this happening at once?' I tell them it's the Chicago in me.

- Lena Waithe

Go, Tell, Always, Chicago

I never thought I would write about Chicago, and I definitely never thought I would write a drama.

- Lena Waithe

Thought, Drama, Never, Chicago

When people think of the South Side of Chicago, they don't think about where I'm from. It was sort of a pocket: this idyllic community of black people who took care of each other, knew each other, spent time with each other.

- Lena Waithe

Other, South, South Side, Chicago

There's something specific about Chicagoans, and I just felt like I'd love to tell their story in a creative way. Not in a way to go, 'Oh, Chicago's perfect.' I don't believe that. I don't think that. I know we have our issues.

- Lena Waithe

Love, Perfect, Tell, Chicago

What's 'Atlanta' about? Technically, it's about a couple guys who are friends, but to me, 'Atlanta' is about black lives. I'm getting a real look at what black life means in Atlanta.

- Lena Waithe

Couple, Means, Lives, Atlanta

There's been a lot of successful shows like 'This Is Us,' 'Atlanta,' and 'Insecure,' so, I feel like whenever something works, Hollywood wants to copy it.

- Lena Waithe

Hollywood, Been, Works, Atlanta

I actually don't like saying 'lead character,' which is an interesting thing. If you say there's a lead, then there has to be someone to follow.

- Lena Waithe

Interesting, Like, Which, Lead Character

I watched a ton of TV because I was raised by a single mom and spent a lot of time with my grandmother. Like most grandparents do, she would spend hours and hours in front of the TV box.

- Lena Waithe

Mom, Grandparents, TV, Hours And Hours

I don't like beating people on the head with the message. I don't like standing on the soapbox.

- Lena Waithe

Head, Standing, Like, Soapbox

I'm a huge fan of television, and the reason I'm a part of the world is because I'm a fan of it.

- Lena Waithe

World, Reason, Fan, Huge Fan

Obviously, I love Steph Curry. I think he's dope and a really cool player to watch.

- Lena Waithe

Love, Think, I Think, Player

I never want to feel too far away from people. I think that's when you get in trouble.

- Lena Waithe

Think, Away, I Think, Far Away

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.

- Lena Waithe

Woman, Sometimes, Polite, Higher

You have to write and develop and wait for the world to catch up to your art.

- Lena Waithe

Art, World, Wait, Catch

I think, to me, I always want to tell the truth. I never want to sugarcoat things. I've never been accused of pulling punches.

- Lena Waithe

Think, Always, Punches, Pulling

I feel like I wanna have a series of moments. It's scary when they say you're having a moment, because moments are momentary.

- Lena Waithe

Like, Momentary, Having, They Say

Always maintain your composure.

- Lena Waithe

Always, Maintain, Your, Composure

To be yourself is truly a revolutionary act, and I think more and more people should try it, because it's gotten me a pretty cool life.

- Lena Waithe

Think, Pretty, I Think, Revolutionary

I definitely have been very mindful of what kind of leader and creator I want to be. A lot of that has to with looking at the writers that you work with. They're all like your children. They all need love, but different versions of it.

- Lena Waithe

Love, Leader, Very, Versions

Being on Netflix lets us be experimental. We can do crazy things.

- Lena Waithe

Crazy, Things, Crazy Things, Netflix

It's interesting how things you hear as a kid take on a whole new meaning when you are an adult.

- Lena Waithe

Interesting, New, Kid, Adult

I was such a fan of Aziz. I watched 'Parks and Rec' like every other self-respecting hipster and loved his character so much and just thought he was so interesting.

- Lena Waithe

Thought, Other, Like, Watched

I wrote 'Twenties' back in 2009. I always wanted to tell a story where a queer black woman was the protagonist, and I'm so grateful to TBS for giving me a platform to tell this story.

- Lena Waithe

Grateful, Always, Queer, Protagonist

I'm a big believer in writing really good dialogue.

- Lena Waithe

Big, Believer, Big Believer, Dialogue

The '80s really were - talk about no rules. People just did whatever they wanted; they could look however they wanted. There was just a lot of bigness and brightness.

- Lena Waithe

Could, However, About, No Rules

If you think you aren't valid for whatever reason, let my existence and the way the world embraces my existence tell you that you are valid. You deserve to look, live, and walk through the world however you see fit. That's why I find it extremely important to be so out, so black, and so myself.

- Lena Waithe

Reason, Through, However, Embraces

'The Breakfast Club' was one of my favorites.

- Lena Waithe

Breakfast, Favorites, Club

I consider myself more of a writer than I do a director.

- Lena Waithe

Myself, Director, More, Consider

When you're not as accessible, you get in a tent and get in your own head, and you start doing things that are a little out of touch. I think we've seen it happen with certain artists... people can't touch them; they're not touching people. They're only touching people in their circle.

- Lena Waithe

Doing, Tent, Accessible, Circle

I write for my people.

- Lena Waithe

People, I Write, Write

I got into the business because I love writing. When it came down to finding my voice, which every writer has to take time to do, I think I realized I write black people very well. I write us in a very honest way, and I want to hear the way we really talk.

- Lena Waithe

Love, Voice, Very, Finding

I hope that people will say that 'she told the truth, she told her truth, she wasn't afraid to live her truth, and she wasn't afraid to live her truth out loud.' That's what I want my legacy to look like.

- Lena Waithe

Legacy, Will, Loud, I Hope That

Queer black characters have been the sidekick for long enough. It's time for us to finally take the lead.

- Lena Waithe

Finally, Been, Queer, Sidekick

I don't want to be white. I don't want to be straight. I don't want to blend in.

- Lena Waithe

White, Want, Straight, Blend

Things meant to appeal to the masses usually end up appealing to no one.

- Lena Waithe

End, Things, Meant, Appealing

I knew very early on I wanted to be a television writer. My teachers told me I was a strong writer and had a voice. I really leaned in to that.

- Lena Waithe

Strong, Voice, Very, Teachers

I'm very grateful that I'm the kind of actor where I'm not some character actor. I can't disappear into a world.

- Lena Waithe

Grateful, Some, Very, Disappear

The things that make us different, those are our superpowers.

- Lena Waithe

Different, Things, Make, Superpowers

I was running around all the time, talking out of turn, a lot of energy, and obsessed with movies. There's nothing I loved more than going to the movies.

- Lena Waithe

Nothing, More, Going, Obsessed

I've been obsessed with television since I was 7 years old, and I've always been writing on some level.

- Lena Waithe

Some, Always, Been, Obsessed

Being a black person in America is exhausting.

- Lena Waithe

Black, Person, Being, Exhausting

I'm queen of mentorship.

- Lena Waithe

Queen

Even white people are tired of watching white people's shows.

- Lena Waithe

White, Shows, Even, Tired

My aesthetic is very black.

- Lena Waithe

Black, Very, Aesthetic

My mother was born into a segregated America. How crazy is that?

- Lena Waithe

Mother, Born, How, Segregated

The thing for me is to always tell the truth. Not to preach, but to tell the truth.

- Lena Waithe

Truth, Tell, Always, Preach

I think it's so trite to say you have lead characters. It's like someone saying I'm the lead in my life.

- Lena Waithe

My Life, Think, I Think, Trite

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