I love the art house, and when I say the art house, I don't just mean little, independent movies but movies that really aim to be about something and say something and I love those movies. Justin Simien More Quotes by Justin Simien More Quotes From Justin Simien Stories teach us empathy. They reveal to us ourselves in the skins of others. Justin Simien us others teach empathy Black people are experiencing a systemic disadvantage, and it goes back to slavery, which was not that long ago. Justin Simien slavery black long people Balance, I think, and self-care is something I want people to really take to heart. Justin Simien think balance heart people Self-doubt is a constant companion for a chubby, gay, black boy born in the South. Justin Simien boy born black gay That is just the reality of being a marginalized person in this country: you have to deal with the psychological impact of your oppressor - whether that's being a woman dealing with men or gay people dealing with straight people or trans people dealing with everybody else. Justin Simien woman you men people It occurred to me that by naming the film itself 'Dear White People,' I could tap into the burgeoning meme culture as well as make a meta-commentary about the controversies within the film. Justin Simien me white culture people Everybody else was quoting 2Pac, and I was running around with Green Day in my Walkman. Racially speaking, I wasn't cool or appropriate for any group. Justin Simien day cool group green I think art is much more valuable when it's honest. If it's not honest, it's just propaganda. Justin Simien more just think art 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? Justin Simien loving thought bed space 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. Justin Simien black gay character people I remember distinctly not seeing myself. I didn't see myself in black culture, white culture, mass culture. Justin Simien myself black remember culture For me it's just, I have too many ideas, man. It's a problem, actually. Justin Simien me man problem ideas It's called 'Dear White People,' but really, it's about these black characters and how they are involved or not involved in a racial scandal in ways that might surprise them and others, right? Justin Simien surprise black white people Racism is systemic: It's oppression that's built into the laws, legislation, into the way neighborhoods are policed, and into job opportunities and health care and education. Justin Simien job health racism education I think we are aware that post-racialism isn't real, right? I mean, I hope so. I kind of joke that we're post-post-racial. Justin Simien joke think real hope The downside of doing a multi-protagonist movie is that you don't get to service each character as you would if they were the central protagonist of the movie. Justin Simien doing service you character Shonda Rhimes has figured it out, of getting multiracial casts on television and appealing to everybody. Justin Simien getting out everybody television I never quite lived up to the image of the black man as I saw it growing up. I was never listening to the right music at the right time or wearing the right clothes at the right time. I was still listening to Michael Jackson, and everyone had sort of moved on to gangster rap. Alanis Morissette when everyone else was listening to En Vogue. Justin Simien man black music time I want the Latino 'Do the Right Thing' to happen. I want filmmakers whose voices are not represented to get a shot. Justin Simien do-the-right-thing right happen want Everyone is very aware that, not only do we have a race problem, but it's so pervasive that it affects national and global politics on a scale that I don't think a lot of people imagined. Justin Simien think politics problem people
