I think that people in America, unfortunately or fortunately, are just discovering different aspects of the humanity of African-American people. And so I think with that discovery comes, ‘Oh, you could be a superhero; you could be president or whatever it is that we thought you couldn’t be.’ Salim Akil Read Quote
When you see a superhero that looks like you and lives in and fights in a neighborhood that is sort of like yours, it’s empowering to a degree that makes you have hope. That is the power of storytelling, and that is the power of images. Salim Akil Read Quote
It’s one thing to be a comic book fan, but when you have to create a character and put him in a suit and keep the story grounded in reality, the challenge sometimes is making sure he actually uses his powers. Salim Akil Read Quote
Black Lightning, Jefferson Pierce, Thunder, and Lightning deserve their own show because they are not ‘the other.’ They are legitimate superheroes in their own right, and so they deserve the full breadth of exploration. That’s what makes them worthy, and that’s why they deserve it. They are not ‘the other.’ They are ‘the the.’ Salim Akil Read Quote
I never saw a true representation – an iconic hero – for myself. It just got boring, reading about all these really powerful and heroic white guys. Salim Akil Read Quote
We all want to make money and have a good life. But if your passion is writing, and you want to write a novel, I don’t think you should sit in your home and wait for someone to give you the opportunity. You write it. Salim Akil Read Quote
I remember, as a kid, wearing the Batman costume for Halloween and feeling empowered by that as a kid. Salim Akil Read Quote
If I’m walking down the street or taking my kids trick-or-treating, and I see some young girls or boys who are dressed up like Black Lightning, that, to me, would be success. Salim Akil Read Quote
