I knew when I was about 14 that I wanted to be a director and that I wanted to go to NYU for film school. Amandla Stenberg Read Quote
I often find myself in situations where I am the token black person. It can feel like this enormous weight. Amandla Stenberg Read Quote
I know when I used to chemically straighten mine, I did it because I wasn’t comfortable with my natural hair. I thought it was too poofy, too kinky. So for me, personally, when I started wearing it natural, it felt like I was blossoming because I was letting go of all the dead hair and all the parts of me that had rejected my natural state. Amandla Stenberg Read Quote
People are getting tired of the same material; they want to see black girls as leads in movies. And I happen to be lucky enough to understand that – and be able to grab that opportunity and run with it. Amandla Stenberg Read Quote
Within months after reading the novel ‘The Hunger Games,’ I went from telling my mom that I could see myself as this character to actually getting the role. My mother reminds me that if I could manifest such an important role just because I wanted it so much, all of my dreams are possible. Amandla Stenberg Read Quote
I come from a very musical family. My dad taught me to play guitar. I play violin and drums as well. Violin, I started in elementary school. Drums actually came when I was in a program called ‘Rock Star,’ which was really awesome. We were doing a song by the Ramones, so I thought, ‘Why not play the drums?’ Amandla Stenberg Read Quote
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn’ by Betty Smith is one of my favorites. Even though it doesn’t have any monsters or crazy fantasy in it, it’s such a raw story, and I can really relate to the characters. I think it’s a beautiful story. Amandla Stenberg Read Quote
