Katori Hall

“We expect our leaders to be godlike. But I feel that when people try to sanctify leadership, it puts it out of the realm of regular people. And that's where the greatest leaders come from - from the people.”

“I feel a responsibility to continue creating complex roles for black women, especially young black women.”

“I'll never be August Wilson - but what I can be is more of myself.”

“I always crave to see more stories about and by people of color, particularly new work by young black writers.”

“It is expensive to give plays subtitles, especially for a short run, so most new dramas rarely cross the transcontinental bridge.”

“I think being an actor makes me a better writer and vice versa. I know the kinds of roles I would kill to play, and I try to create them for others.”

“I started writing because I got so frustrated that there weren't enough plays that had roles for young black women in them.”

“I feel the feminist movement has excluded black women. You cannot talk about being black and a woman within traditional feminist dialogue.”

“Theatre is an exclusive place that tends to be dominated by white men, or dying white men.”

“Many theaters are tackling the multifaceted work of black writers - established and emerging. Now the next step is for them to bring in audiences of color and continue to go out to our community and create a continuous connection that extends beyond the one black show in the season.”

“Don't let others put thoughts into your mind that takes away your self-confidence.”

“I grew up playing with kids from Hurt Village, playing with kids from other housing projects, Lamar Terrace, because my grandmother lived in that particular area. So, I always wondered how I would have turned out if I would have lived in that particular given circumstance.”