Hair, in terms of women in general, is a huge part of what we're told represents our beauty, beauty obviously plays into self esteem and self worth. As black women in this culture... we've been told that our hair is not beautiful because it does not look like the European standard, which is long and straight.

Sanaa Lathan

Categorized in : Entertainment

Being strong can be also feminine. I don't think feminine equals being weak. Being strong is very sexy.

Sanaa Lathan

sexy strong thinking

In this day and age, especially with all the media and television, social media, and the Internet, we are constantly being compared and comparing ourselves to others' lives and journeys. Keep your eyes on your own road.

Sanaa Lathan

media eye journey

You can never be happy when you're constantly comparing yourself to others. Keep your eyes ahead.

Sanaa Lathan

comparing-yourself-to-others compare eye

I feel like people grow the most when they step outside of the box that they are used to. For me, it's constantly challenging myself to step outside of my comfort zone. As soon as you do that, then you grow, but then you get comfortable again.

Sanaa Lathan

challenges comfort people

Sometimes when you don't care, people are attracted to that.

Sanaa Lathan

care sometimes people

Like the guy I was dating. White, liberal, educated. I went to meet his family and I think that they probably didn't know they had a problem with it until he walked in with me. And they definitely had issues. Mom had issues with it. Could not, didn't want to see her son. And I don't think she had anything against me. But it was about her son bringing me home. And I felt that for the first time. I was like, 'Wow, that's deep.' It's really simple: I don't fit their picture.

Sanaa Lathan

mom home son

I've never gotten any complaints about my headscarf from a man. You can be sexy with a head wrap!

Sanaa Lathan

complaints sexy men

I look forward to going to work. Everybody is at the top of their game. It was like we just got to play.

Sanaa Lathan

games play looks

People may know me from films, but theater is my first love. I did about 35 plays before I even landed my first screen role. I'm very comfortable on stage, and theater is not something you can just wing.

Sanaa Lathan

first-love play wings

I have dated all races and I believe you should be free to do whatever you want.

Sanaa Lathan

race want believe

I don't know if it's more acceptable or if black men are more comfortable. Black men certainly are more comfortable with it. I don't know that society, like white society loves it or black women. When you see a black man with a white woman there is a feeling that you have and I think the feeling is an instinctual feeling of you want her you don't want me. I don't look anything like her, so you don't like. You know what I mean? Something like that. It's a real instinctual primal thing.

Sanaa Lathan

real men mean

I've been in a couple with different races like Latino, white, Middle Eastern.

Sanaa Lathan

couple race white

I think I'm definitely more open. You know the thing is I wouldn't have said I was closed before, but like, it's the kind of thing that you don't even think of other options. I've been dating black men for really, for like, I don't know, 10 years. You know, I haven't really dated outside of that. Now I think I'm probably am more open to the idea.

Sanaa Lathan

men years thinking

It was a good script [Something New]. We have not seen an interracial issue dealt with from a black woman and white man's perspective in this way. And, usually, it's a black man, white woman. I loved the fact that it wasn't about the couple being against the world or the couple against the family. I loved the fact that it was her dealing with her own prejudices that came up, her own guilt, her own shame and embarrassment about what her peers thought.

Sanaa Lathan

white-man couple men

People are going to always have their opinions whether you date a black man or not. I've had girlfriends, family members comment on black men that I've dated as well as white people. People want to see what they want to see. And if anybody doesn't fit that picture they're going to be like, 'Yeah, I didn't see you with him.'

Sanaa Lathan

girlfriend white men

In terms of facial creams or lotions, I try to switch it up and stay as natural as possible. l like Le Mer facial cream for when I have an event. It's very rich and sometimes too rich for some people, but I like it.

Sanaa Lathan

events trying people

And then there was moments with white guy where like we would be in Harlem. There would be five brothers in the corner, and this is an awful feeling but you're holding his hand and you want to pull your hand away cause you don't want the judgment. And you're gonna get the judgment even if it's just in looks. And the black men are the worst when it comes to judging.

Sanaa Lathan

brother men hands

The great thing about the stage is that you have a structured month-long rehearsal period where you're going in every day. You have to have lots of run-throughs with theater because there are no second takes in front of a live audience.

Sanaa Lathan

rehearsal running long

My characteristics [of Ideal Black Man.] aren't as specific. I'm more general. I'm more like, I have to be able to talk to him. You know, we have to have good communications. He has to be interested in the world. You know what I mean. Like interested in learning and adventurous and curious, 'cause that's what I am. He has to be passionate about something. And it would be nice if he had a job. It's not like he has to have an MBA.

Sanaa Lathan

communication nice jobs

Some of us just have to work harder to stay in the game.

Sanaa Lathan

work-harder hard-work games