Salim Akil

“Come election time, black and white politicians put on their costumes of compassion and care, shake black hands, kiss black babies, sing 'We Shall Overcome' in black , and pray that we will ignore the reality of everyday suffering and the damage that is being done to our future in exchange for our votes.”

“There are so many slices to the African-American experience. I mean, I have the whole ghetto pedigree. My mom was in jail, I didn't have any money, and I didn't go to a fancy college. But that's not the type of story I want to tell or feel the need to tell on film.”

“You change the landscape in Hollywood with action, not words.”

“As an artist, I write and I do what I know and what creatively comes out of me, and I think that other artists should do the same thing.”

“In this larger conversation about diversity, we want to really show that we're all the same. We are all experiencing the same stories.”

“It doesn't make sense to constantly talk about the lack of diversity in Hollywood. We all know it's there. My wife and I just want to change that conversation with our work.”

“It's less about Trump and more about the people... If the American people are willing to elect someone like that president, then that's more of a problem.”

“My wife asked me to marry her. But we did not jump the broom.”

“I grew up around people with a bunch of serious problems.”

“Black Lightning, Jefferson Pierce, Thunder, and Lightning deserve their own show because they are not 'the other.' They are legitimate superheroes in their own right, and so they deserve the full breadth of exploration. That's what makes them worthy, and that's why they deserve it. They are not 'the other.' They are 'the the.'”

“Nina Simone, to me, singing about black culture - she's unparalleled.”

“When you're young, taking a risk doesn't necessarily feel like a risk because you're young.”

“I had been pulled over quite a bit by police officers, especially in Santa Monica and Culver City.”

“A lot of African Americans, especially men, deal with this as a part of life. I've been pulled over by the police in my life, and I think I've only gotten a ticket once. It's just a part of everyday life, and it doesn't matter if you're in the car with your children or by yourself.”

“Women want you to feel that you're just as attracted to them today as you were when you first met them, and for me, that's the truth.”

“If anyone sees anything in 'Black Lightning' that seems foreign to them, then they haven't been paying attention. This is a uniquely American experience.”

“I don't think I'll ever do a show with violence where there's no consequences, 'cause I know the consequences.”

“Most guys have to go through this: When do you separate yourself from your friends? Some of them are going to go left, some of them are going to go right, some are going to go straight. And you have to go on your path.”

“I feel like I have a responsibility to be true to who I am as an artist, first and foremost.”

“If you bury me in a grave, don't ever come visit - because you won't find me there. You'll find me in the books that I've read, the music I've listened to, and the art I've created.”