Obviously I’m not from 50’s background – I’m from Westport, Connecticut, which is as far away from his background as you can get, right? Growing up in Westport, for a long time I was the only black person living there for miles. Courtney A. Kemp Read Quote
My parents were 30 years older than I was, and my parents had my brother and I ten years apart. My parents grew up in segregation, and they both lived in all-black neighborhoods and grew up with large black families. I didn’t have any of that, and I didn’t understand feeling so differently and being treated so differently. Courtney A. Kemp Read Quote
In college, I didn’t know whether to hang out with the black kids or the white kids, and then I found the theatre kids, and I was like, ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter.’ We were all weird and listening to Morrissey and wearing Doc Martens so that was my tribe. Courtney A. Kemp Read Quote
I had to figure out that finding my place was not about race but about creativity, and connecting with other artists helped me find my voice. Courtney A. Kemp Read Quote
When I was pitching ‘Power,’ I had an executive say, ‘Well, I already have a black show.’ He said that right to my face. Courtney A. Kemp Read Quote
I am not going to say that only people of color can write people of color, because that means only white people can write white people, and that’s not OK. Courtney A. Kemp Read Quote
Every writer should be able to write anything if you do the research and you’re sensitive enough to ask the questions. Courtney A. Kemp Read Quote
It’s ridiculous that we let broadcast and cable shows compete against each other at the Emmys. They are not the same animal. Courtney A. Kemp Read Quote
