A biography for Nafessa Williamshasn’t been written yet.
“In most superhero shows, the superhero is pretty young. He's in his 20s; he's single. 'Black Lightning' is a man who's middle-aged, going through a divorce, and has two daughters.”
“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 I wasn't from Philly, I couldn't promise you that I would have the same drive and the same ambition because, as a little kid, I always saw myself as making it out, and I would escape with television.”
“I know what it's like to be in college and not have the budget to fully look the way I want to.”
“I believe gratitude leads to happiness.”
“I want everyone to be aware of what their superpower is because I believe that we all have superpowers.”
“Debbie Allen and Regina King inspire me.”
“I want lesbians to be inspired and to feel comfortable with who they are and walk boldly in that.”
“My workouts always start with doing some cardio.”
“Wonder Woman is one of my favorite superheroes.”
“It's very necessary, showing the positive aspect of a black father. We see a lot of black women being the head of the household and holding the house down, but I think we need to have those images because there are black fathers out there who are doing the same thing and who are the glue to the family. That's who Black Lightning is.”
“I graduated with all honors, and I was about to take the LSATs, and I was working at a law firm, and I hated it.”
“Most superheroes are young or in their 20s, and as you can see with Black Lightning, he's in his mid-40s and he has a family, so that affects you a bit differently as opposed to being a young, single superhero.”
“This is the most rewarding experience ever, taking on the role of Thunder as an actress. I'm just grateful and honored to give my voice to Thunder because she's so bold.”
“I think it's very important to find something that you do that helps center you.”
“Believe it or not, I am a tomboy.”
“Disappointment builds character and strength.”
“I really look up to my mother and the strength that she has built in me, especially the strength in her faith, which has inspired me to turn my dreams into reality.”
“I switch up between going to the gym or exercising outside to run around a track and the stairs of a stadium.”
“Ultimately, my goal is to inspire little brown girls that look like me, that are sitting on the porch wearing cornrows.”