105 Quotes by Justin Simien

I think we all have identity crises throughout our lives.

Self-doubt is a constant companion for a chubby, gay, black boy born in the South.

You watch 'Malcolm X,' and then Netflix recommends 'B.A.P.S.,' and you're like, 'What? Those movies have absolutely nothing to do with each other, but OK.' They don't recommend other historical biopics - it's 'B.A.P.S.' and 'Ghost Dad.'

For whatever reason, gay characters, or characters that deal with sexuality issues, who are black, in 'black films'... are typically not dealt with with any sort of complexity. They're exoticized: their being gay is sort of the point.

I thought I was depressed because I wasn't a writer/director. I moved into a space where I'm a writer/director, my movie is a hit at Sundance, I have a wonderful, loving boyfriend, and wow, I have financial stability. Why can't I get out of bed still?

There are a plethora of ways of being black, just like there's many ways to being white.

Shows like 'Empire'... one of the most profound powerful things is that there's a gay male character who is loved. That character is going to save a lot of people's lives. Black families are confronting the idea that a gay black character can be human.

There is a difference between being offended and being prejudiced and even being bigoted against. There's a difference between that and racism.

I remember distinctly not seeing myself. I didn't see myself in black culture, white culture, mass culture.