--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most superhero shows are set in an…" description: "\"Most superhero shows are set in an alternative universe. 'Black Lightning' is literally in the hood. He's going inside of the ghetto and trying to make..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/nafessa-williams-12321_black_most-superhero-shows-are-set-in-an-alter_239693.jpg" --- # Most superhero shows are set in an alternative universe… ![“Most superhero shows are set in an alternative universe. 'Black Lightning' is literally in the hood. He's going inside of the ghetto and trying to make a difference.” quote by Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/nafessa-williams-12321_black_most-superhero-shows-are-set-in-an-alter_239693.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/nafessa-williams-12321_black_most-superhero-shows-are-set-in-an-alter_239693.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9a/nafessa-williams-12321_black_most-superhero-shows-are-set-in-an-alter_239693.jpg) > “Most superhero shows are set in an alternative universe. 'Black Lightning' is literally in the hood. He's going inside of the ghetto and trying to make a difference.” [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The series places a superhero in a realistic urban setting, highlighting social issues and community impact. **In simple terms:** Superhero in the hood tackles real problems. Key Takeaway Use powers to help your community. Themes social justice urban life heroism Mood hopeful serious Type inspirational social commentary When to use this quote - neighborhood revitalization - policy advocacy - grassroots organizing Key Concepts community activism representation systemic inequality Questions to Reflect On - How can heroes address structural issues? - What responsibilities do they have to their community? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex systemic problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Make a difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-a-difference/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) ## Related quotes > [In most superhero shows, the superhero is pretty young. He's in his 20s; he's single. 'Black Lightning' is a man who's middle-aged, going through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/in-most-superhero-shows-the-superhero-is-pretty-young-he-s-in-his-20s/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [I believe what makes Black Lightning different from other superhero shows and other superheroes is that he's really, really family-oriented. You get to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/i-believe-what-makes-black-lightning-different-from-other-superhero/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [“Father Forgive Us For Livin’ Why All My Homies Stuck In Prison? Barely Breathin’ Believin That The World Is A Prison, It’s Like A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupak-shakur/father-forgive-us-for-livin-why-all-my-homies-stuck-in-prison-barely/) Tupak Shakur > [But while so many white Americans are unaware of conditions inside the ghetto, there are very few ghetto dwellers who are unaware of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/but-while-so-many-white-americans-are-unaware-of-conditions-inside/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“If my body is a Universe, I have a black hole. I mask it, but it sits at the center of my body. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-turner/if-my-body-is-a-universe-i-have-a-black-hole-i-mask-it-but-it-sits-at/) Claudia Turner > [“It took around 500 years to human to find out that black people are human and still they don't know why the universe is black”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-st-pierre/it-took-around-500-years-to-human-to-find-out-that-black-people-are/) Emmanuel St-Pierre > [Most superheroes are young or in their 20s, and as you can see with Black Lightning, he's in his mid-40s and he has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/most-superheroes-are-young-or-in-their-20s-and-as-you-can-see-with/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [I did not know much about 'Black Lightning' beforehand, but I always wanted to play a superhero. After getting the part, I went back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/i-did-not-know-much-about-black-lightning-beforehand-but-i-always/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [To come and turn the TV on and see Black Lightning trying to make a change and being a leader and stepping up, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/to-come-and-turn-the-tv-on-and-see-black-lightning-trying-to-make-a/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [It's very necessary, showing the positive aspect of a black father. We see a lot of black women being the head of the household…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/it-s-very-necessary-showing-the-positive-aspect-of-a-black-father-we/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [It's nice to be a part of a show I was passionate about and that's pushing the culture forward. I feel 'Black Lightning' is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/it-s-nice-to-be-a-part-of-a-show-i-was-passionate-about-and-that-s/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [“Maybe he’s right,’ she says, meaning the guy on the screen. ‘Maybe we do all exist in some alternative universe and we’re living in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-james/maybe-he-s-right-she-says-meaning-the-guy-on-the-screen-maybe-we-do/) [Andrew James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-james/) > [The Democrats right now are living in an alternative universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-democrats-right-now-are-living-in-an-alternative-universe/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The idea that somehow we're better off today than the day that Barack Obama was inaugurated president of the United States is totally an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/the-idea-that-somehow-we-re-better-off-today-than-the-day-that-barack/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [Ive always loved the power of stories to transport me to another world, to imagine extraordinary possibilities, to experience things I may not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kandyse-mcclure/ive-always-loved-the-power-of-stories-to-transport-me-to-another/) [Kandyse McClure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kandyse-mcclure/) ## More by Nafessa Williams > [To come and turn the TV on and see Black Lightning trying to make a change and being a leader and stepping up, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/to-come-and-turn-the-tv-on-and-see-black-lightning-trying-to-make-a/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [It's nice to be a part of a show I was passionate about and that's pushing the culture forward. I feel 'Black Lightning' is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/it-s-nice-to-be-a-part-of-a-show-i-was-passionate-about-and-that-s/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [It's very necessary, showing the positive aspect of a black father. We see a lot of black women being the head of the household…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/it-s-very-necessary-showing-the-positive-aspect-of-a-black-father-we/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [We all have that superhero inside us, but it's about tapping into it and embracing it and owning it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/we-all-have-that-superhero-inside-us-but-it-s-about-tapping-into-it/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [I love really sweet, soft scents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/i-love-really-sweet-soft-scents/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [I think I have proven that I can play any type of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/i-think-i-have-proven-that-i-can-play-any-type-of-character/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [I know what it's like to be in college and not have the budget to fully look the way I want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/i-know-what-it-s-like-to-be-in-college-and-not-have-the-budget-to/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [Debbie Allen and Regina King inspire me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/debbie-allen-and-regina-king-inspire-me/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [Disappointment builds character and strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/disappointment-builds-character-and-strength/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [Sometimes you don't know what is it you want to do until you try it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/sometimes-you-don-t-know-what-is-it-you-want-to-do-until-you-try-it/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [Successful artists don't follow trends; they create them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/successful-artists-don-t-follow-trends-they-create-them/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [This is the most rewarding experience ever, taking on the role of Thunder as an actress. I'm just grateful and honored to give my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/this-is-the-most-rewarding-experience-ever-taking-on-the-role-of/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [I didn't have a brown-skinned superhero growing up who wore cornrows and who reflected the inner city where I come from in Philadelphia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/i-didn-t-have-a-brown-skinned-superhero-growing-up-who-wore-cornrows/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [Who would've thought that this little girl in the ghetto in Philly would be playing the first black lesbian superhero on network TV?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/who-would-ve-thought-that-this-little-girl-in-the-ghetto-in-philly/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) > [I did not know much about 'Black Lightning' beforehand, but I always wanted to play a superhero. After getting the part, I went back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nafessa-williams/i-did-not-know-much-about-black-lightning-beforehand-but-i-always/) [Nafessa Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) [Explore all 55 Nafessa Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nafessa-williams/) ## More Black quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) Browse all 11,655 Black quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most superhero shows are set in an alternative universe. 'Black Lightning' is literally in the hood. 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