--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you do a black character or a female…" description: "\"If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race or that sex, an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/748/dwayne-mcduffie-46554_asian_if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female_3202.png" --- # If you do a black character or a female character or an… ![“If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race or that sex, and they can't be interesting because everything they do has to represent an entire block of people. You know, Superman isn't all white people and…” quote by Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/748/dwayne-mcduffie-46554_asian_if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female_3202.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/748/dwayne-mcduffie-46554_asian_if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female_3202.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/748/dwayne-mcduffie-46554_asian_if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female_3202.png) > “If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race or that sex, and they can't be interesting because everything they do has to represent an entire block of people. You know, Superman isn't all white people and neither is Lex Luthor. We knew we had to present a range of characters within each ethnic group, which means that we couldn't do just one book. We had to do a series of books and we had to present a view of the world that's wider than the world we've seen before.” [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A critique of tokenistic representation, urging diverse, multi-dimensional portrayals of identity groups. **In simple terms:** Complex representation Key Takeaway Diversity needs depth Themes representation identity media criticism inclusion Mood critical analytical Type essay manifesto When to use this quote - writing a series - creating a franchise - building a shared universe Key Concepts character development cultural nuance Practical Applications - inclusive storytelling - media strategy Questions to Reflect On - Can a single character ever fully embody a demographic? - How does expanding a cast affect audience connection? A Different Perspective None ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Ethnic groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethnic-groups/) [Female](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female/) [Female character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-character/) [Female characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-characters/) [Lex Luthor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lex-luthor/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [White people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-people/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [When I do an Asian character or an Asian voice I'm doing one because that's my heritage and my family and where I come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/when-i-do-an-asian-character-or-an-asian-voice-i-m-doing-one-because/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I always tell myself that when you're playing a character, pretend they're on trial and you're giving the best witness of their life. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauley-perrette/i-always-tell-myself-that-when-you-re-playing-a-character-pretend/) [Pauley Perrette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauley-perrette/) > [Character represent life and life represents our character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-dawn/character-represent-life-and-life-represents-our-character/) Lucy Dawn > [Superman isn't brave.¨You can't be brave if you are indestructible. It's every day people like me and you that are brave, Knowing we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-downs/superman-isn-t-brave-you-can-t-be-brave-if-you-are-indestructible-it/) Jesse Downs > [Superman isn't moody or brooding or aggressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cavill/superman-isn-t-moody-or-brooding-or-aggressive/) [Henry Cavill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cavill/) > [The fact is that Superman isn't around because he is the oldest superhero. He's still around because he is a great superhero. He's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-frank/the-fact-is-that-superman-isn-t-around-because-he-is-the-oldest/) [Gary Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-frank/) > [Having a super-brain does not suddenly make you a dictator of the world. So we don't have to fear the scenarios of science fiction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/having-a-super-brain-does-not-suddenly-make-you-a-dictator-of-the/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [I'm kind of shocked any time somebody hires me and even more shocked any time somebody hires me to play a character like Lex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/i-m-kind-of-shocked-any-time-somebody-hires-me-and-even-more-shocked/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [The DC Universe has the best villains in fiction, right? I don't think there's any group of villains collectively or anywhere else that come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-johns/the-dc-universe-has-the-best-villains-in-fiction-right-i-don-t-think/) [Geoff Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-johns/) > [“Then you repeat. The thing that goes badly wrong means that the someone we like has to take another step to get around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-wright-2/then-you-repeat-the-thing-that-goes-badly-wrong-means-that-the/) [John C Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-wright-2/) > ['Forever Evil' is, ultimately, a Lex Luthor story. And everything in there is reflecting who Lex is and what he's going through. And we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-johns/forever-evil-is-ultimately-a-lex-luthor-story-and-everything-in-there/) [Geoff Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-johns/) > [One of the greatest sins in any story is false suspense. The kind of 'suspense' that disintegrates the moment you give your reader one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-waid/one-of-the-greatest-sins-in-any-story-is-false-suspense-the-kind-of/) [Mark Waid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-waid/) > [Jesse Eisenberg, this little nebbishy guy, as Lex Luthor? For me, that's a genius move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/jesse-eisenberg-this-little-nebbishy-guy-as-lex-luthor-for-me-that-s/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [“What you need Lois, is a man. All your artistic brilliance, wasted, toiling away in the sordid day-to-day of White’s little paper empire. Reporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-cherryh/what-you-need-lois-is-a-man-all-your-artistic-brilliance-wasted/) [C.J. Cherryh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-cherryh/) > [“But there was someone she knew who could speak with a special knowledge on the Cross-Lexcorp controversy. Someone she’d rather not deal with. Someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-cherryh/but-there-was-someone-she-knew-who-could-speak-with-a-special/) [C.J. Cherryh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-cherryh/) ## More by Dwayne McDuffie > [ You don’t feel as real if you don’t see yourself reflected in the media \[…\] There’s something very powerful about seeing yourself represented. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/you-don-t-feel-as-real-if-you-don-t-see-yourself-reflected-in-the/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [I'm conscious of race whenever I'm writing, just as I'm conscious of class, religion, human psychology, politics — everything that makes up the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/i-m-conscious-of-race-whenever-i-m-writing-just-as-i-m-conscious-of/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [My fan fiction is canon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/my-fan-fiction-is-canon/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [I was born in Detroit. I never really saw myself working in comics, I just fell into it. But it's been one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/i-was-born-in-detroit-i-never-really-saw-myself-working-in-comics-i/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [I think the biggest advice I can offer is don't just pick one story and stop, write as much as you can, as many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/i-think-the-biggest-advice-i-can-offer-is-don-t-just-pick-one-story/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [I've always felt that the cool thing about being a writer is that all you need is paper to do the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/i-ve-always-felt-that-the-cool-thing-about-being-a-writer-is-that-all/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [“Johnny Quick: Did we save the world, then? Batman: We did. Johnny Quick: And all that rubbish about me being faster than Flash? You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/johnny-quick-did-we-save-the-world-then-batman-we-did-johnny-quick/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) [Explore all 8 Dwayne McDuffie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) ## More Asian quotes > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [When you are in America, at least for me, as an immigrant, I try to be as Americanized as I could. I just want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/when-you-are-in-america-at-least-for-me-as-an-immigrant-i-try-to-be/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [I always tell Asian actors, especially Filipinos wanting to break into Hollywood, to study, study and study and show their best. I haven't stopped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-lee/i-always-tell-asian-actors-especially-filipinos-wanting-to-break-into/) [Reggie Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-lee/) > [The narrative needs to change. Asian-American actresses don't want to be the damsels in distress anymore. We don't want to be saved, especially by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-chung/the-narrative-needs-to-change-asian-american-actresses-don-t-want-to/) [Jamie Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-chung/) > [It's always fun to see faces that are either familiar or resemble yours. I was fascinated by movies like 'Big Trouble in Little China'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-chin-han/it-s-always-fun-to-see-faces-that-are-either-familiar-or-resemble/) [Ng Chin Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-chin-han/) > [In view of China's growing military strength and intentions, the best way to safeguard Asia's permanent peace and prosperity is to have all Asian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-costa/in-view-of-china-s-growing-military-strength-and-intentions-the-best/) [Jim Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-costa/) > [I think Li Na and some other Chinese ladies have done so many amazing things for Asian tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kei-nishikori/i-think-li-na-and-some-other-chinese-ladies-have-done-so-many-amazing/) [Kei Nishikori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kei-nishikori/) > [I don't want to have people brought in simply because they are black or Asian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-phillips/i-don-t-want-to-have-people-brought-in-simply-because-they-are-black/) [Trevor Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-phillips/) > [We grew up in rural Arkansas without any Koreans close by, and when I go to Korea feel out of place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-isaac-chung/we-grew-up-in-rural-arkansas-without-any-koreans-close-by-and-when-i/) [Lee Isaac Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-isaac-chung/) > [I've been lucky to come up when there's such a huge explosion of women, and especially Asian women, in music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-zauner/i-ve-been-lucky-to-come-up-when-there-s-such-a-huge-explosion-of/) [Michelle Zauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-zauner/) > [I knew I was half Chinese, but Iceland is so homogenous that I wasn't able to identify with the Asian part of myself. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laufey/i-knew-i-was-half-chinese-but-iceland-is-so-homogenous-that-i-wasn-t/) [Laufey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laufey/) > [We will work our hardest to make sure SS501 is an Asian and Worldwide Star .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-hyun-joong/we-will-work-our-hardest-to-make-sure-ss501-is-an-asian-and-worldwide/) [Kim Hyun-joong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-hyun-joong/) [Browse all 1,157 Asian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race or that sex, and they can't be interesting because everything they do has to represent an entire block of people. You know, Superman isn't all white people and neither is Lex Luthor. 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