--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I write characters focusing on them as…" description: "\"I write characters focusing on them as human beings, and then you wrap them within a culture. So I think I can connect with him as a person with brown ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/joe-robert-cole-38246_brown_i-write-characters-focusing-on-them-as-h_1664740.jpg" --- # I write characters focusing on them as human beings, and… ![“I write characters focusing on them as human beings, and then you wrap them within a culture. So I think I can connect with him as a person with brown skin who's viewed differently by the world. In terms of his culture, we're thinking about where we are locating Wakanda within the continent, and…” quote by Joe Robert Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/joe-robert-cole-38246_brown_i-write-characters-focusing-on-them-as-h_1664740.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/joe-robert-cole-38246_brown_i-write-characters-focusing-on-them-as-h_1664740.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/joe-robert-cole-38246_brown_i-write-characters-focusing-on-them-as-h_1664740.jpg) > “I write characters focusing on them as human beings, and then you wrap them within a culture. So I think I can connect with him as a person with brown skin who's viewed differently by the world. In terms of his culture, we're thinking about where we are locating Wakanda within the continent, and what the people and history of that region are like. It's a process of investigation to help inform the story at this point. But we are going to be engaged with consultants who are experts on the continent and on African history and politics.” [Joe Robert Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-robert-cole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes creating characters as fully human individuals first, then embedding them in authentic cultural contexts through research and expert consultation. **In simple terms:** Humanize characters before adding cultural layers. Key Takeaway Prioritize humanity, then research culture. Themes character development authenticity representation research storytelling Mood thoughtful respectful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - screenwriting - film production - character design - historical research Key Concepts cultural immersion humanism consultancy Questions to Reflect On - How does focusing on humanity change representation? - What risks arise from cultural generalization? A Different Perspective May overlook individual diversity within cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brown skin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brown-skin/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Experts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experts/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Why should anyone think a white skin superior in evaluating the qualities of human life? I did not really admire a white skin so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/why-should-anyone-think-a-white-skin-superior-in-evaluating-the/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [“Medina is shorter and not as physically gifted as Susan, but she has this intangible something that drives men crazy. Her tangible isn’t bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-m-gray-jr/medina-is-shorter-and-not-as-physically-gifted-as-susan-but-she-has/) [Maurice M Gray Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-m-gray-jr/) > [“Ransie was a narrow six feet of sallow brown skin and yellow hair. The imperturbability of the mountains hung upon him like a suit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/ransie-was-a-narrow-six-feet-of-sallow-brown-skin-and-yellow-hair-the/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [“The creature had nut-brown skin mixed with patches of ash. It was human-sized and formed, but its skin looked like the bark of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-mahoney/the-creature-had-nut-brown-skin-mixed-with-patches-of-ash-it-was/) [Karen Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-mahoney/) > [ “Man, Ra-Thaga, I always told you that you had a brown skin over a white heart, but you wouldn’t believe me. \[161\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-t-plaatje/man-ra-thaga-i-always-told-you-that-you-had-a-brown-skin-over-a-white/) [Sol T. Plaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-t-plaatje/) > [“I had to admit there was one good thing about staying in the south. Instead of being the only person with tan skin, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/i-had-to-admit-there-was-one-good-thing-about-staying-in-the-south/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [African-Americans who might have disagreed with candidate Obama's left-of-center politics voted for him in 2008 because electing a candidate with brown skin was too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alveda-king/african-americans-who-might-have-disagreed-with-candidate-obama-s/) [Alveda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alveda-king/) > [“Mira Levenson. Aged twelve. Looks, long dark shiny hair, dark brown eyes (almost black), brown skin. Beautiful. Favorite colour, copper orange, I think. Personality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sita-brahmachari/mira-levenson-aged-twelve-looks-long-dark-shiny-hair-dark-brown-eyes/) Sita Brahmachari > [“Are you hungry?” a girl asks. She’s got wild curls and light-brown skin that is run through with green lines, like a birch tree.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoraida-c-rdova/are-you-hungry-a-girl-asks-she-s-got-wild-curls-and-light-brown-skin/) [Zoraida Córdova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoraida-c-rdova/) > [“All of the Indians must have tragic features: tragic noses, eyes, and arms. Their hands and fingers must be tragic when they reach for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/all-of-the-indians-must-have-tragic-features-tragic-noses-eyes-and/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [I like them brown, yellow, Puerto Rican, or Haitian Name is Phife Dawg from the Zulu nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phife-dawg/i-like-them-brown-yellow-puerto-rican-or-haitian-name-is-phife-dawg/) [Phife Dawg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phife-dawg/) > [“Alas, I had no power, at that time, to combat the flat refusal of many cover departments to put people of color on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/alas-i-had-no-power-at-that-time-to-combat-the-flat-refusal-of-many/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“You see someone more interesting than me?" asked Simon. In the dream he was mysteriously an expert dance. He steered her through the crowd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-see-someone-more-interesting-than-me-asked-simon-in-the-dream-he/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“But then they rounded a corner and nearly collided with Kaltain Rompier. The assassin would have grimaced, but she forgot all about Kaltain as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/but-then-they-rounded-a-corner-and-nearly-collided-with-kaltain/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Skin the colour of chestnuts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-cornwell/skin-the-colour-of-chestnuts/) [Bernard Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-cornwell/) ## More by Joe Robert Cole > [Historically, opportunity has been afforded to a limited pool of people, excluding people of color and women. That doesn't diminish the talent or hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-robert-cole/historically-opportunity-has-been-afforded-to-a-limited-pool-of/) [Joe Robert Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-robert-cole/) > [ Having gone through the \[Marvel\] writer program, I knew Black Panther was in the pipeline and I knew they were big fans of my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-robert-cole/having-gone-through-the-marvel-writer-program-i-knew-black-panther/) [Joe Robert Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-robert-cole/) > [ This problem \[of historical opportunities\] compounds itself by limiting the number of people in the pipeline to attain the experience to do larger movies… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-robert-cole/this-problem-of-historical-opportunities-compounds-itself-by-limiting/) [Joe Robert Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-robert-cole/) > [Black Panther is a historic opportunity to be a part of something important and special, particularly at a time when African Americans are affirming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-robert-cole/black-panther-is-a-historic-opportunity-to-be-a-part-of-something/) [Joe Robert Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-robert-cole/) > [I think you try to extrapolate from the early civilizations and cultures of the continent, kind of looking for unique ways they set themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-robert-cole/i-think-you-try-to-extrapolate-from-the-early-civilizations-and/) [Joe Robert Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-robert-cole/) > [I figured out I wanted to tell stories in college. I'm an only child who moved around a lot growing up, and I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-robert-cole/i-figured-out-i-wanted-to-tell-stories-in-college-i-m-an-only-child/) [Joe Robert Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-robert-cole/) > [ Being able to interact with \[studio president\] Kevin Feige and have him know who I am and know me as a person, and be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-robert-cole/being-able-to-interact-with-studio-president-kevin-feige-and-have-him/) [Joe Robert Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-robert-cole/) > [When you start talking about movies of that size, they're trying to sell globally to foreign markets. So there is an economic question that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-robert-cole/when-you-start-talking-about-movies-of-that-size-they-re-trying-to/) [Joe Robert Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-robert-cole/) > [Well, TV does a better job. In film, the justification has been that movies focused on stories or featuring people of color don't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-robert-cole/well-tv-does-a-better-job-in-film-the-justification-has-been-that/) [Joe Robert Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-robert-cole/) > [There is a huge fan base for the Black Panther comic and for Marvel as a whole. And I think there is great anticipation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-robert-cole/there-is-a-huge-fan-base-for-the-black-panther-comic-and-for-marvel/) [Joe Robert Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-robert-cole/) > [had two smaller scripts that I had written with full black casts. And people loved the scripts, but nobody would fund them. Those roles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-robert-cole/had-two-smaller-scripts-that-i-had-written-with-full-black-casts-and/) [Joe Robert Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-robert-cole/) [Explore all 12 Joe Robert Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-robert-cole/) ## More African quotes > [We examine and highlight the history of the African descendants in America, and know that each and every one of us has come this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-clarke/we-examine-and-highlight-the-history-of-the-african-descendants-in/) [Yvette Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-clarke/) > [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Virtually all of Darfur's six million residents are Muslim, and, because of decades of intermarriage, almost everyone has dark skin and African features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/virtually-all-of-darfur-s-six-million-residents-are-muslim-and/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [I loved Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi. Its about a first-generation African family living in America that has to return home to Nigeria…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzo-aduba/i-loved-ghana-must-go-by-taiye-selasi-its-about-a-first-generation/) [Uzo Aduba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzo-aduba/) > [I was adopted my black Americans, I feel that I'm a 'Hybrid'. When I'm around Africans'I suddenly feel very black American. And when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kola-boof/i-was-adopted-my-black-americans-i-feel-that-i-m-a-hybrid-when-i-m/) [Kola Boof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kola-boof/) > [I concentrate on the southern African subcontinent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-dennis/i-concentrate-on-the-southern-african-subcontinent/) [Nigel Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-dennis/) > ['Yo I'm from Africa' Boy you're just a faker. Name one city: 'Uhh, Jamaica!' Wrong! And I think that's a shame, An African look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-sun/yo-i-m-from-africa-boy-you-re-just-a-faker-name-one-city-uhh-jamaica/) King Sun > [I am of an African-Jamaican descent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-mitchell/i-am-of-an-african-jamaican-descent/) [Liz Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-mitchell/) > [When I was very little, I was into Michael Jackson. At six or seven, it was Madonna, but she's not what she used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/when-i-was-very-little-i-was-into-michael-jackson-at-six-or-seven-it/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [Football is a personal interest which has been turned into a philanthropic initiative directed at encouraging social cohesion during the difficult process of African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-hussein-al-amoudi/football-is-a-personal-interest-which-has-been-turned-into-a/) Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi > [But we've all ended up giving body and soul to Africa, one way or another. Even Adah, who's becoming an expert in tropical epidemiology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/but-we-ve-all-ended-up-giving-body-and-soul-to-africa-one-way-or/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [African Queen' is pretty darn great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-eggers/african-queen-is-pretty-darn-great/) [Robert Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-eggers/) > [Most Americans know nothing about the African forest, and it seems to them a very scary, spooky dangerous place. I've spent a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-quammen/most-americans-know-nothing-about-the-african-forest-and-it-seems-to/) [David Quammen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-quammen/) Browse all 576 African quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I write characters focusing on them as human beings, and then you wrap them within a culture. So I think I can connect with him as a person with brown skin who's viewed differently by the world. In terms of his culture, we're thinking about where we are locating Wakanda within the continent, and what the people and history of that region are like. It's a process of investigation to help inform the story at this point. But we are going to be engaged with consultants who are experts on the continent and on African history and politics.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joe Robert Cole" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-robert-cole/i-write-characters-focusing-on-them-as-human-beings-and-then-you-wrap/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "African" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-robert-cole/i-write-characters-focusing-on-them-as-human-beings-and-then-you-wrap/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/joe-robert-cole-38246_brown_i-write-characters-focusing-on-them-as-h_1664740.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/joe-robert-cole-38246_brown_i-write-characters-focusing-on-them-as-h_1664740.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c5/joe-robert-cole-38246_brown_i-write-characters-focusing-on-them-as-h_1664740.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I write characters focusing on them as human beings, and then you wrap them within a culture. So I think I…” — Joe Robert Cole", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Joe Robert Cole", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-robert-cole/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I write characters focusing on them...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-robert-cole/i-write-characters-focusing-on-them-as-human-beings-and-then-you-wrap/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-robert-cole/i-write-characters-focusing-on-them-as-human-beings-and-then-you-wrap/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```