Mara Brock Akil Quotes

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Mara Brock Akil

Profession : Writer

Birth : May 27, 1970

Being black, Latino, or Asian is not a genre. Romantic comedies, thrillers, action - those are genres. I think there's a lot of people who want to have the conversation. I don't think people are afraid of it, I just think it's the time to have that conversation. Race is not a genre.

Mara Brock Akil

If you want something, work hard for it, go after it. I can't worry about all the 'no's, because I believe there's a yes, and I've been very fortunate to find those in my career and made the most of those opportunities.

Mara Brock Akil

To choose love and jump in not knowing, with a lot of unknowns, is a brave act.

Mara Brock Akil

With 'Girlfriends,' even with 'The Game,' or even with 'Being Mary Jane,' I didn't get a chance to wrap up the story and, more specifically, show love.

Mara Brock Akil

I believe in divine order all the time.

Mara Brock Akil

I was born knowing I had to go to college.

Mara Brock Akil

I'm not afraid of stereotypes. There are some truths to it - but the problem is that people keep sort of owning that one thing to be the truth.

Mara Brock Akil

A staple of my personality is that I want what I want - and I'm willing to do without until I get it.

Mara Brock Akil

We still have a lot of work to do in American culture. More open-mindedness is happening - in some cases rapidly, in some, slowly.

Mara Brock Akil

Any form of media is an opportunity to be a mirror and reflection of what we are experiencing more in the details of our life. What makes it fun and unique in a lot of ways is how that journey is changing just by the mere fact of the current time.

Mara Brock Akil

I love writing about black women, but if you go beyond that, we're human beings - and because we're human beings, it's universal for everybody.

Mara Brock Akil

I often attribute my screenwriting to journalism because they drill in the who, what, when, where and why - but we really need to land on that why. That's what I've been exploring in my writing for many years and trying to get better at.

Mara Brock Akil

I'm trying to talk about challenging subjects people might not like and trying to find relief as we discuss it.

Mara Brock Akil

I think pregnancy, like life, is what you make it. I received a good hand. I'm thankful and blessed and so peaceful and can't wait to welcome my son.

Mara Brock Akil

I'm very connected and passionate about what I put out in the world, and I want to get things safely to shore.

Mara Brock Akil

When I was in '97, I didn't know I was in a very major moment. But with the privilege of reflection, I do. And that's what artists should do - they should help illuminate and reflect the human condition.

Mara Brock Akil

I wanted always to be a storyteller of the fullest expression.

Mara Brock Akil

In 'Girlfriends,' I was exploring the idea of having it all. In 'Being Mary Jane,' I was exploring the idea that you have to be the center of everything.

Mara Brock Akil

I've been having a 20-plus year conversation with black women, starting with 'Girlfriends,' moving through 'The Game,' 'Being Mary Jane,' even 'Sparkle.'

Mara Brock Akil

That's what this industry is all about - supporting artists and supporting storytellers and hearing the audience for what they want and need. There still is a lack of value for what black women want, yet we have proven to be one of the strongest consumers in the marketplace.

Mara Brock Akil