Believe Quote by Tomi Adeyemi
“I spent 12 years of my life writing stories without black people. That's insane to me. It's insane that I could have believed in magical portals and dragons and all that stuff, but to believe a black person could be experiencing those things was unimaginable.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New York Times, 2020
The author reflects on a long period of exclusion of Black characters from fantasy, realizing it was a narrow worldview.
In simple terms: Realized missing Black representation in fantasy stories.
Key Takeaway
Include diverse characters in all narratives.
Themes
inclusion
representation
fantasy
authorial growth
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
personal
social commentary
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- school curricula
- media production
- publishing decisions
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
cultural awareness
imaginary worlds
social responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How can writers broaden their imagination?
- What steps ensure authentic representation?
A Different Perspective
Changing habits may face market resistance or tokenism.
