--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We still have to create things for…" description: "\"We still have to create things for African American women. Just like Tyler Perry is doing it, we can't wait for things to happen; you have to go and ma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/kym-whitley-15081_african_we-still-have-to-create-things-for-afric_2017421.jpg" --- # We still have to create things for African American women… ![“We still have to create things for African American women. Just like Tyler Perry is doing it, we can't wait for things to happen; you have to go and make and create roles and go to people.” quote by Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/kym-whitley-15081_african_we-still-have-to-create-things-for-afric_2017421.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/kym-whitley-15081_african_we-still-have-to-create-things-for-afric_2017421.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/kym-whitley-15081_african_we-still-have-to-create-things-for-afric_2017421.jpg) > “We still have to create things for African American women. Just like Tyler Perry is doing it, we can't wait for things to happen; you have to go and make and create roles and go to people.” [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote urges proactive creation of representation for African American women rather than waiting for others. **In simple terms:** Create roles yourself instead of waiting. Key Takeaway Take initiative to build opportunities. Themes representation agency diversity Mood determined hopeful Type activist motivational When to use this quote - casting - writing - networking - community outreach Key Concepts media cultural production empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can you start creating roles today? - Who can you collaborate with to amplify impact? A Different Perspective Limited resources and industry gatekeeping may hinder efforts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african/) [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [African american women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american-women/) [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-women/) [Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happen/) [Happen Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happen-make-424655/) [Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perry/) [Perry Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perry-doing-3635290/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Roles People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles-people-337181/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyler/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyler-perry/) [Wait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wait/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [African American women in particular have incredible buying power. Statistically, we go to the movies more than anyone. We have made Tyler Perrys career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/african-american-women-in-particular-have-incredible-buying-power/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [I met Tyler Perry and we did 'House of Payne' and a movie. We've done a couple other films since then, but it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-gross/i-met-tyler-perry-and-we-did-house-of-payne-and-a-movie-we-ve-done-a/) [Lance Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-gross/) > [There are still plenty of movie people peddling black stereotypes. I guess Tyler Perry's probably the most massively successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/there-are-still-plenty-of-movie-people-peddling-black-stereotypes-i/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [I'd love to get into one of Tyler Perry's movies - play a little role, have a little character. I don't care. But more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-jones/i-d-love-to-get-into-one-of-tyler-perry-s-movies-play-a-little-role/) [Sharon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-jones/) > [Working with Tyler Perry has been a wonderful experience. Everything he touches turns to gold, it seems like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-gross/working-with-tyler-perry-has-been-a-wonderful-experience-everything/) [Lance Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-gross/) > [Every black film feels like it's Tyler Perry, and that just needs to stop. But people seem to slowly be looking for what else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/every-black-film-feels-like-it-s-tyler-perry-and-that-just-needs-to/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [People know Tyler Perry, and there are standards they've come to expect from him. His brand is uplifting, and it's something a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/people-know-tyler-perry-and-there-are-standards-they-ve-come-to/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I'm very familiar with Tyler Perry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/i-m-very-familiar-with-tyler-perry/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [On Disney, we stick to the script. But you go to the 'Grown Ups set' and it's completely different. Same thing with Tyler Perry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-anne-mcclain/on-disney-we-stick-to-the-script-but-you-go-to-the-grown-ups-set-and/) [China Anne McClain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-anne-mcclain/) > [Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-whitford/infuse-your-life-with-action-don-t-wait-for-it-to-happen-make-it/) [Bradley Whitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-whitford/) > [Stop hoping for things to happen, and make them happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-micah-rosales/stop-hoping-for-things-to-happen-and-make-them-happen/) [Maria Micah Rosales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-micah-rosales/) > [What's your vision of what you think should happen? How can you make it happen? Go stand in your power and walk with intention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-feldt/what-s-your-vision-of-what-you-think-should-happen-how-can-you-make/) [Gloria Feldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-feldt/) > [If you want to make something happen, you can make it happen. There's always a way if it's what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-alvord/if-you-want-to-make-something-happen-you-can-make-it-happen-there-s/) [Tiffany Alvord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-alvord/) > [In life, don't wait for things to happen. Make them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-alvord/in-life-don-t-wait-for-things-to-happen-make-them/) [Tiffany Alvord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-alvord/) > [I sometimes say that success just happens. That's not true. You have to make it happen. When I make up my mind to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grade/i-sometimes-say-that-success-just-happens-that-s-not-true-you-have-to/) [Michael Grade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grade/) ## More by Kym Whitley > [If you could draw a picture of the best high school in the world - where all the teachers are wonderful and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/if-you-could-draw-a-picture-of-the-best-high-school-in-the-world/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [Voice work is the best - no need to dress up, no audience, no pressure, nobody's judging you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/voice-work-is-the-best-no-need-to-dress-up-no-audience-no-pressure/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [Back in the day, we ate fresh; our parents cooked. Now, we're starting to think things are fresh because they're in a can, they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/back-in-the-day-we-ate-fresh-our-parents-cooked-now-we-re-starting-to/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [I'm always fighting with profanity and Christian comedy. I'm telling you, it's always a fight. Because my father said to me, he said, 'Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/i-m-always-fighting-with-profanity-and-christian-comedy-i-m-telling/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [I didn't know that my son had allergies until he spit up eggs one day, and one day he had a little peanut butter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/i-didn-t-know-that-my-son-had-allergies-until-he-spit-up-eggs-one-day/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [It's so much easier when you're a size two or three to just slip on anything. But a big girl, sometimes you've got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/it-s-so-much-easier-when-you-re-a-size-two-or-three-to-just-slip-on/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [I worked with Marlon Wayans on the show 'They Wayans Brothers,' and we hit it off. One thing about Marlon, when he casts a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/i-worked-with-marlon-wayans-on-the-show-they-wayans-brothers-and-we/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [I saw Nichelle Nichols in 'Truck Turner,' and she was so good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/i-saw-nichelle-nichols-in-truck-turner-and-she-was-so-good/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [Of course I watch 'Life with La Toya' on OWN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/of-course-i-watch-life-with-la-toya-on-own/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [I love female company. I love men, but women are different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/i-love-female-company-i-love-men-but-women-are-different/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [It is a challenge trying not to give in to pleasing other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/it-is-a-challenge-trying-not-to-give-in-to-pleasing-other-people/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [I love Cleveland, and I love going back home. That's where my family is. That's where my roots are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/i-love-cleveland-and-i-love-going-back-home-that-s-where-my-family-is/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [The OWN network is all about inspiring and enlightening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/the-own-network-is-all-about-inspiring-and-enlightening/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > [When I first came to Los Angeles, I was a teacher in Compton. I know how in need schools are around the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/when-i-first-came-to-los-angeles-i-was-a-teacher-in-compton-i-know/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) > ['College Road Trip' is colorless. It's not a black film. It's not a white film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-whitley/college-road-trip-is-colorless-it-s-not-a-black-film-it-s-not-a-white/) [Kym Whitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) [Explore all 44 Kym Whitley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-whitley/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We still have to create things for African American women. 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