--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have minor characters who are…" description: "\"I have minor characters who are Asian-American, and I've been using them throughout my career, but they've never taken center stage, they've never been..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/tess-gerritsen-3102_asian_i-have-minor-characters-who-are-asian-am_1224262.jpg" --- # I have minor characters who are Asian-American, and I've… ![“I have minor characters who are Asian-American, and I've been using them throughout my career, but they've never taken center stage, they've never been really powerful, they've never expressed some of the experiences I had growing up in the U.S. Johnny Tam is the first one.” quote by Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/tess-gerritsen-3102_asian_i-have-minor-characters-who-are-asian-am_1224262.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/tess-gerritsen-3102_asian_i-have-minor-characters-who-are-asian-am_1224262.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/tess-gerritsen-3102_asian_i-have-minor-characters-who-are-asian-am_1224262.jpg) > “I have minor characters who are Asian-American, and I've been using them throughout my career, but they've never taken center stage, they've never been really powerful, they've never expressed some of the experiences I had growing up in the U.S. Johnny Tam is the first one.” [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author notes a pattern of marginalizing Asian‑American characters, rarely giving them central, powerful roles, and sees a new character breaking that trend. **In simple terms:** Asian‑American characters often stay peripheral; this one is central. Key Takeaway Give marginalized characters agency. Themes representation diversity character development Mood reflective hopeful Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - casting decisions Key Concepts cultural identity authorial responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can writers amplify underrepresented voices? - What impact does centralizing diverse characters have on audiences? A Different Perspective Changing representation may face market resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) [Asian american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian-american/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Experiences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiences/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Minor characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minor-characters/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) ## Related quotes > [In real life, people are integrated into society. That's what happens in my books as well. Minor characters don't just walk in and spout…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stieg-larsson/in-real-life-people-are-integrated-into-society-that-s-what-happens/) [Stieg Larsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stieg-larsson/) > [There's no shortage of orphans in 19th-century literature, but it's hard to find a single happy, communicative, functional parental relationship in the whole of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/there-s-no-shortage-of-orphans-in-19th-century-literature-but-it-s/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [If I've got one thing that I really believe about fiction and life, it's that there are no minor characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-gardam/if-i-ve-got-one-thing-that-i-really-believe-about-fiction-and-life-it/) [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) > [I've long been interested in the role of 'minor characters' in major events. 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Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [I'm fortunate in that I'm what you call a utility player, in that I can take a scene, if there's five or six minor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-bergen/i-m-fortunate-in-that-i-m-what-you-call-a-utility-player-in-that-i/) [Bob Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-bergen/) > [I'd always assumed I was the central character in my own story, but now it occured to me I might in fact be only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-hoban/i-d-always-assumed-i-was-the-central-character-in-my-own-story-but/) [Russell Hoban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-hoban/) > [Sometimes minor characters are based on people I know, on friends of mine. But I'm not writing a thinly veiled version of my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/sometimes-minor-characters-are-based-on-people-i-know-on-friends-of/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“She spun the car through a right turn that would have killed us all had we been minor characters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/she-spun-the-car-through-a-right-turn-that-would-have-killed-us-all/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [Look at the Coen brothers. All their minor characters are as interesting as their protagonists. If the smaller characters are well-written, the whole world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-gleeson/look-at-the-coen-brothers-all-their-minor-characters-are-as/) [Brendan Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-gleeson/) > [Are you a minor character in my tale, or am I a lesser figure in yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/are-you-a-minor-character-in-my-tale-or-am-i-a-lesser-figure-in-yours/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [I talk about Breaking Bad being the most brilliant show ever, and even minor characters have subtle nuances and are fully drawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/i-talk-about-breaking-bad-being-the-most-brilliant-show-ever-and-even/) [Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/) ## More by Tess Gerritsen > [There is honor between bitches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/there-is-honor-between-bitches/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Had she always been so insulated from human contact, like a bloom encased in frost?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/had-she-always-been-so-insulated-from-human-contact-like-a-bloom/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Fans are always asking me where I get my ideas from. 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Should it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/if-you-don-t-love-him-if-you-don-t-even-care-about-him-then-seeing/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“My name is Mila, and this is my journey. There are so many places where I could begin the story. I could start in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/my-name-is-mila-and-this-is-my-journey-there-are-so-many-places-where/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Now we sit and wait,” the woman said, and she settled into a chair, the gun on her lap. “What are we waiting for?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/now-we-sit-and-wait-the-woman-said-and-she-settled-into-a-chair-the/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [The Christmas tree, twinkling with lights, had a mountain of gifts piled up beneath it, like offerings to the great god of excess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/the-christmas-tree-twinkling-with-lights-had-a-mountain-of-gifts/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Because I never plan anything out ahead of time, I'm always in the process of learning about my characters. Without a biographical sketch to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/because-i-never-plan-anything-out-ahead-of-time-i-m-always-in-the/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [When you're a fifty-year-old woman, no one really bothers to look at you anymore, much less value your opinion. It's hard on the old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/when-you-re-a-fifty-year-old-woman-no-one-really-bothers-to-look-at/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Mom and I often talked about the trip we'd someday take together to the 'city of eternal spring' where she was born. In Kunming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/mom-and-i-often-talked-about-the-trip-we-d-someday-take-together-to/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“But human anatomy and human endurance are variable. While the much younger nun had succumbed to her injuries, Ursula's heart kept beating, her body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/but-human-anatomy-and-human-endurance-are-variable-while-the-much/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [Where we go depends on what we know, and what we know depends on where we go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/where-we-go-depends-on-what-we-know-and-what-we-know-depends-on-where/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [“Some people make choices hoping for the best; Korsak had made a choice simply to avoid the worst.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/some-people-make-choices-hoping-for-the-best-korsak-had-made-a-choice/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) [Explore all 134 Tess Gerritsen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) ## 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/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female-character-or-an-asian/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. 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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. 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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/) [Browse all 1,157 Asian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have minor characters who are Asian-American, and I've been using them throughout my career, but they've never taken center stage, they've never been really powerful, they've never expressed some of the experiences I had growing up in the U.S. Johnny Tam is the first one.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tess Gerritsen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/i-have-minor-characters-who-are-asian-american-and-i-ve-been-using/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/i-have-minor-characters-who-are-asian-american-and-i-ve-been-using/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/tess-gerritsen-3102_asian_i-have-minor-characters-who-are-asian-am_1224262.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/tess-gerritsen-3102_asian_i-have-minor-characters-who-are-asian-am_1224262.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54b/tess-gerritsen-3102_asian_i-have-minor-characters-who-are-asian-am_1224262.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have minor characters who are Asian-American, and I've been using them throughout my career, but they've…” — Tess Gerritsen", "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": "Tess Gerritsen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have minor characters who are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/i-have-minor-characters-who-are-asian-american-and-i-ve-been-using/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/i-have-minor-characters-who-are-asian-american-and-i-ve-been-using/#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 } } ] } ```