Ava DuVernay Quotes

It's not good enough to say we value diversity and then underrepresent women and minorities.

If we truly seek diversity in fiction, we have to let the needs of others come before our need to define ourselves as social justice allies.

The only way you get to the goal of color blindness is to be color conscious along the way.

I'm someone very interested in diversity, equity, social justice, and getting rid of white supremacy.

Helping to open up the conversation about inclusion and diversity in casting has been a dream come true.

I'm obviously a white woman with privilege. I want to make sure I always collaborate with people who aren't like me so we can create a work that isn't one dimensional.

It's really important to me to follow the kinds of conversations that happen around diversity and representation and writing inclusive books.

Diversity on the bench is critical. As practitioners, you need judges who 'get it!' We need judges who understand what discrimination feels like. We need judges who understand what inequality feels like. We need judges who understand the subtleties of unfair treatment and who are willing to call it out when they see it!

While I started out with a vague understanding that diversity would be important, my own observations have led me to realize that achieving greater levels of diversity is in fact vital to our long-term success.

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

I don't understand labels. I don't need anybody to tell me I'm Latina or black or anything else. I've played characters that were written for Caucasian females, I just want to be given the same consideration as everybody else, and so far that has been happening.

We do not believe that minorities can only be represented by minorities..

Even in 'Hollyoaks,' we were known as 'the black family' as opposed to just 'the new family.' But that's where we are in the world, I guess. It's getting better; everything's heading in the right direction, whether it be race, sex, gender.

Diversity needs to operate on every level. It's great that the Oscars have highlighted it, but black actors getting nominated shouldn't be the only result. There's so much more that needs to be done.

I can't say that there's been some big change during my career where all of a sudden everything's totally colorblind.

Diversity is essential to the success of the news industry, and journalists must include diverse voices in their coverage in order to reach a broader audience. We have stories to tell, but many in our audience have stopped listening because they can tell that we're not talking about them.

From casting to hiring to awards races like the Emmys, taking active steps toward inclusion will make for richer stories, a stronger democracy, and a better world.

I've heard people say, 'Why do you have to do a show that's called 'Black Girls Rock'?' or 'Why is there an expression called 'black girl magic'?' You know, when you say, 'Save the dolphins,' you don't mean, 'I don't like whales.' That's just not the way it works!

I think the issues around diversity of all kinds are really a huge problem in the startup world.

I perform at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, where my race and gender are rarely pointed out.

Education is the key solution for change, for peace, and for help in the fight against racism and discrimination in general.

People are making a lot more noise about representation and diversity. But I think modeling is one of the professions where people can be kind of racist.

I can't even believe that in 2018, I still have to lay out why diversity in anything matters.

Diversity is not only color, but it also includes individuals with disabilities.

Diversity is strength. Our cinema and our art forms need to diversify so that it tells all stories, all perspectives.