Mahershala Ali Quotes

I grew up watching cinema in my country that wasn't telling stories about us, and we had to find a way to connect, and our references, our role models had nothing to do with us. And I'm so glad that it's changing.

More Asians need to be on television as a positive role model.

We all know the power of film; we all know there's almost nothing more powerful than to see people on film that look and talk like you, like we do.

It meant something to see people who looked like me in comic books. It was this beautiful place that I felt pop culture should look like.

It's important, as a young person of color, to see yourself reflected in the media.

It's important for Asian American kids to see themselves in stories and to feel seen. They need to know that their stories are universal, too, that they, too, can fall in love in a teen movie. They don't have to be the sidekick; they can be the hero.

For me, like, obviously, I want to see myself onscreen.

'Essence' is political. I grew up on the magazine, looking at the covers. Seeing ourselves on the cover is political.

I remember loving 'Hairspray.' I was obsessed with it, and I didn't realise why. I felt so connected to it at the time because there wasn't any other kind of representation. So when it happens, you think, 'wow, I really connect with this movie. Why is that? Maybe it's because there's a girl like me up there on the screen.'

It's really empowering when you see yourself represented in entertainment and, especially, onstage when you're talking about how this country came to be.

Representation is necessary, and we all want to turn on the TV and see characters who look like us and represent us in some way.

If you never, or rarely, see your experience depicted in art or pop culture then you can begin to feel isolated or separate; Othered. So, representation is super important.

It's not about just diversity; it's about authenticity. Audiences are really excited to see more of themselves on the screen.

Every fan interaction I have when someone tells me they can look to their television screens and see themselves reflected in me is a dream come true.

People love to see themselves on screen in a way that makes sense and seems on point.

I feel like I've started to create my own culture of being a voice for something, and that's what people want to know about. I love that because I am a woman and because I a rap, and I look the way I look, I can connect with the demographic of people who feel like they have a voice in me.

I wasn't able to relate to anyone on TV growing up, so I wanted to bring my own experiences to the screen.

While books expand horizons by exposing us to worlds outside our own, children also need to see themselves, their experiences and their cultures reflected in books they read. Unfortunately, for too many children, this is not the norm.

Film is a mirror. I want to see more filmmakers. We all want to see ourselves.

It's very important to me that people get to see themselves in stories. When someone tells me they've never seen themselves, I have a new goal.

It's hard as a young person of a different ethnicity or background to look at the TV and not see anyone who looks like you. Representation is very important.

I grew up looking for myself onscreen and never could find myself. And I believe that I am supposed to be Toula to show people that it's O.K. to be different.

I just want other women to be able to see themselves in the music.

Having brought diversity to the air in the way that we have with Kerry Washington and Viola Davis toplining their shows, and then shows like 'Fresh Off the Boat' and 'Black-ish,' have been very important. I look forward to continuing in that vein.

I hope to see more Latino stories on television - not just on a personal level, but for us in the industry. We shouldn't just exist when a show is attempting to be diverse. We have good stories, and we are worth it.