--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe it's important to have equal…" description: "\"I believe it's important to have equal opportunities as a black actor. My way of fighting for it is through my art, by not accepting that there are rol..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/malachi-kirby-17803_actor_i-believe-it-s-important-to-have-equal-o_331543.jpg" --- # I believe it's important to have equal opportunities as a… ![“I believe it's important to have equal opportunities as a black actor. My way of fighting for it is through my art, by not accepting that there are roles that aren't for me.” quote by Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/malachi-kirby-17803_actor_i-believe-it-s-important-to-have-equal-o_331543.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/malachi-kirby-17803_actor_i-believe-it-s-important-to-have-equal-o_331543.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79c/malachi-kirby-17803_actor_i-believe-it-s-important-to-have-equal-o_331543.jpg) > “I believe it's important to have equal opportunities as a black actor. My way of fighting for it is through my art, by not accepting that there are roles that aren't for me.” [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocating for representation by refusing roles that reinforce stereotypes, using art to demand equity. **In simple terms:** Demand equal roles through art. Key Takeaway Choose roles that empower. Themes equality representation artistic activism Mood determined hopeful Type advocacy inspirational When to use this quote - auditions - casting decisions - public statements Key Concepts social justice identity politics Questions to Reflect On - How can artists balance advocacy with career growth? - What impact does role selection have on broader industry change? A Different Perspective May limit career opportunities if not strategic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting-roles-836560/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Black Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-actor/) [Equal Opportunities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-opportunities-297353/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Opportunities Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunities-black-3101907/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I'm also only accepting roles where I am sitting or laying down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-segel/i-m-also-only-accepting-roles-where-i-am-sitting-or-laying-down/) [Jason Segel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-segel/) > [I keep getting advice on the social media that I should be selective in accepting roles. But, as an actor, I get attracted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-mathew/i-keep-getting-advice-on-the-social-media-that-i-should-be-selective/) [Joy Mathew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-mathew/) > [If the white man can come here uneducated and as an immigrant, and within 10 or 15 years set up an industry that provides…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-the-white-man-can-come-here-uneducated-and-as-an-immigrant-and/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The only way the two can have equal job opportunities is if black people have factories as, as well as white people have factories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-only-way-the-two-can-have-equal-job-opportunities-is-if-black/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I feel an obligation to use black dancers because there must be more opportunities for them, but not because I'm a black choreographer talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/i-feel-an-obligation-to-use-black-dancers-because-there-must-be-more/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [I never thought about being the first black actor to win, even though everybody else talked about that. If I stop to think as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-sy/i-never-thought-about-being-the-first-black-actor-to-win-even-though/) [Omar Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-sy/) > [You know what? I never really factor Hollywood into anything. I'm a black actor, so I can't really control what Hollywood thinks. I gotta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-foxx/you-know-what-i-never-really-factor-hollywood-into-anything-i-m-a/) [Jamie Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-foxx/) > [The pilots I did test for, I was the only black actor testing against white actors for parts that were written white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-august-richards/the-pilots-i-did-test-for-i-was-the-only-black-actor-testing-against/) [J. August Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-august-richards/) > [You get into these executive offices, and people say, 'Oh, we have this project. Wait a minute, guys, we need diversity - let's choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldis-hodge/you-get-into-these-executive-offices-and-people-say-oh-we-have-this/) [Aldis Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldis-hodge/) > [It's great to be black in Hollywood. When a black actor does something, it seems new and different just by virtue of the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/it-s-great-to-be-black-in-hollywood-when-a-black-actor-does-something/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I don't see myself as a 'black actor,' I'm just Shemar Moore the actor. I'm very proud to be black, but I'm just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shemar-moore/i-don-t-see-myself-as-a-black-actor-i-m-just-shemar-moore-the-actor-i/) [Shemar Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shemar-moore/) > [I was lucky to get into drama school and become a professional actor. No-one ever mentioned the colour of my skin. It's only when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harewood/i-was-lucky-to-get-into-drama-school-and-become-a-professional-actor/) [David Harewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harewood/) > [As a black actor, you always have the feeling that there's not as much work out there as for a white counterpart, but is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-missick/as-a-black-actor-you-always-have-the-feeling-that-there-s-not-as-much/) [Dorian Missick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-missick/) > [A black actor is perfect for 'Kojak.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/a-black-actor-is-perfect-for-kojak/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [I was reluctant to play Othello. It seemed like such a 'black actor' cliche, but when I finally did, in my 40s, I related…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/i-was-reluctant-to-play-othello-it-seemed-like-such-a-black-actor/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) ## More by Malachi Kirby > [Kunta Kinte's strength derives from the knowledge of where he comes from, but it struck me that I don't know where I come from.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/kunta-kinte-s-strength-derives-from-the-knowledge-of-where-he-comes/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [One of the biggest things that I took from playing Kunta Kinte was where his strength came from in knowing where he was from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/one-of-the-biggest-things-that-i-took-from-playing-kunta-kinte-was/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [When I heard that 'Roots' was being remade, my first response was, 'Seriously?' I was a bit skeptical. Then I had an audition in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/when-i-heard-that-roots-was-being-remade-my-first-response-was/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [I found that there were things that God could reveal to me that I could never get myself physically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/i-found-that-there-were-things-that-god-could-reveal-to-me-that-i/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [Charlie Brooker is crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/charlie-brooker-is-crazy/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [I was 22 when my mother gave me the original box set of 'Roots' and she said, 'I want you to watch this.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/i-was-22-when-my-mother-gave-me-the-original-box-set-of-roots-and-she/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [Playing Kunta Kinte is an emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/playing-kunta-kinte-is-an-emotional-physical-spiritual-and-mental/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [I was taught about slavery, but it was the ancient Egyptians. That's the closest I got to African history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/i-was-taught-about-slavery-but-it-was-the-ancient-egyptians-that-s/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [My roots go back to West Africa, but my last name is Kirby, which is not an African name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/my-roots-go-back-to-west-africa-but-my-last-name-is-kirby-which-is/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [There are many people still ashamed of their roots because of the negative connotations that come with being an 'African.' That sentiment exists many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/there-are-many-people-still-ashamed-of-their-roots-because-of-the/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [My dad passed when I was 6. I found out when I was about 21 that my dad always said acting would be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/my-dad-passed-when-i-was-6-i-found-out-when-i-was-about-21-that-my/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [Kunta Kinte is the closest thing I've ever seen... to a superhero. He's amazing. He's inspirational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/kunta-kinte-is-the-closest-thing-i-ve-ever-seen-to-a-superhero-he-s/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [It's really cheesy, but basically, 'Roots' got me to find out my own roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/it-s-really-cheesy-but-basically-roots-got-me-to-find-out-my-own-roots/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [Kids under, I'd say, 14 are still maturing; they are still growing. They are still understanding themselves. To hit them with something like 'Roots,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/kids-under-i-d-say-14-are-still-maturing-they-are-still-growing-they/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [I was the shiest person you could think of. I didn't really speak. I was an only child, so most of my life I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/i-was-the-shiest-person-you-could-think-of-i-didn-t-really-speak-i/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) [Explore all 36 Malachi Kirby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [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 was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I believe it's important to have equal opportunities as a black actor. 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