Often, African-Americans' work is accepted as if we did something artistic by happenstance. It's almost like, 'They make TV shows the same way they dance. It's just natural!'
Jefferson Pierce is the epitome of what black men are: He loves his wife, his children, and the community.
I don't think I'll ever do a show with violence where there's no consequences, 'cause I know the consequences.
Nina Simone, to me, singing about black culture - she's unparalleled.
If the only thing that was interesting about Jefferson Pierce is that he is African-American, I don't think we'd have much of a show.
Black Lightning, Jefferson Pierce, is the American dream.
I have two little black boys. And a film like 'Do the Right Thing' can help illuminate the times for them with great storytelling.
I don't walk around all the time thinking of myself as African American, but oftentimes in Hollywood, you are reminded of that in ways that can make you question your viability.
I remember, as a kid, wearing the Batman costume for Halloween and feeling empowered by that as a kid.
Oftentimes in a marriage, you really don't have to say anything. You can sort of have a conversation without words.
I was determined to make a movie - about families and a love story - that black women would be proud to see and which would depict them as being smart, loving, sensitive, sexy, and funny.
There are so many slices to the African-American experience. I mean, I have the whole ghetto pedigree. My mom was in jail, I didn't have any money, and I didn't go to a fancy college. But that's not the type of story I want to tell or feel the need to tell on film.
What we tend to do in our shows, especially with 'Love Is_,' is to show the humanity of characters so that people can see themselves, one, and so that other cultures can see that we have more in common than we have not in common.
I tell my children, some people can be more talented than you. Some people can be faster, stronger, but there is never a reason for anyone to outwork you.
Like anyone else in television, I like to explore my life experience. And I don't think African-American artists see doing shows or art about African-Americans as something 'less than.' I think maybe the industry sometimes does. We don't get as much attention, we don't get critical acclaim and so on.
To me, Jefferson Pierce represented every side of me. I knew that I would be able to flesh him out.
As an artist, I write and I do what I know and what creatively comes out of me, and I think that other artists should do the same thing.
When you're young, taking a risk doesn't necessarily feel like a risk because you're young.
I had been pulled over quite a bit by police officers, especially in Santa Monica and Culver City.
I feel like I have a responsibility to be true to who I am as an artist, first and foremost.
