Colson Whitehead Quotes

I've never excluded myself because of color. It's never been part of the radar, when I look at anything I do. The majority of the roles that I've played have had very little to do with being black. It doesn't matter what color you are.

We're not monolithic. What is blackness? To me, how do you define that?

Black people, we are not this monolithic group, you know?

Well who's black and what is a black person?

I have a theory. An audience doesn't need to get wrapped up in blackness every time they see a Negro actor. And a movie doesn't have to be about race just because there's a Negro in it.

Overall my race hasn't been a problem. I'm a Black artist with White skin. At the end of the day you have to sing what's in your own soul.

The norm is white, apparently, in the view of people who see things in that way. For them, the only reason you would introduce a black character is to introduce this kind of abnormality. Usually, it's because you're telling a story about racism or at least about race.

I am definitely a person of color.

That doll looks more like a black man than me.

The different ness of races, moreover, is no evidence of superiority or of inferiority. This merely indicates that each race has certain gifts which the others do not possess.

No one tells every white person in this country how to be. No one tells every Hispanic, or Asian or Jewish person in this country how to be. There is no single definition of whiteness or single definition of blackness.

Colored people come in all colors.

My whole life is an interracial relationship! It's inescapable. I am who I am.

There is no one American beauty or just one beautiful color in the pantheon, especially in regards to black people - there is no better color.

I know I'm a black actor, but really, I'm an actor who happens to be black.

When I was a kid, I honestly never thought about race. I didn't see differences.

I definitely am not white.

My concerns have always been to do the best job I can. But I am conscious that I'm a black manager and I am conscious that there is a profile that goes with that.

I got the genetics of - not to get into racism or anything - but I'm built like a black man.

Unfortunately, I don't know many black people.

I think, all too often, this society has too monolithic a definition of what a black American is.

When I signed for Spurs, I was the only black player in the team.

I don't like the term 'black film,' and I am proud to be black.

I need to point out that African-Americans are not a monolith and do not operate in groupthink.

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