54 Ava DuVernay Quotes for You to Enjoy

Ava DuVernay

American Director

Born: Aug 24, 1972

Black People Think Time Women You

Related authors: David Lynch George Lucas Martin Scorsese Spike Lee Steven Spielberg Tim Burton Woody Allen

I think any black woman is a queen. It's just, do you know it? Do you see it in yourself? Do you recognize it, do you abide by that, do you define yourself as that? Based on who we are and what we've been through and how we survive and where we stand, we are on kind of sacred ground. We stand on the backs of our ancestors. Ava DuVernay

You Woman Yourself Queen Black Think Our Define Ancestors Backs Recognize Kind Abide See Through Sacred Do You Know Know How Been Survive Any Just Where Stand Ground Who Based

Creativity is an energy. It's a precious energy, and it's something to be protected. A lot of people take for granted that they're a creative person, but I know from experience, feeling it in myself, it is a magic; it is an energy. And it can't be taken for granted. Ava DuVernay

If your dream is only about you, it's too small. Ava DuVernay

You Too Dream About Only Small Your Your Dream

I want more girls to be able to see themselves behind the camera creating images we all enjoy, and I want to call attention to the fact that women directors are here all over the world. Ava DuVernay

Women World Girl Enjoy See Able More Directors Fact Attention Over Call Camera Behind Want Themselves Creating Images Here

My interest as an artist is to illuminate the lives of black folks. I definitely am focused on films that illustrate all that we are and all our nuance and all our complicated beauty and mess, and when you're telling those stories, you gotta have black actors. Ava DuVernay

Oh, Diane Nash deserves her own film. Diane Nash is a freedom fighter who is still alive and kicking. She was one of the leaders of the desegregation of Nashville, basically. She was a student at Fisk University who was one of the founding members of SNCC, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Ava DuVernay

Freedom Own Fighter Kicking Alive Members Student Leaders She Still Nashville Nonviolent Diane Committee Oh Who Film Coordinating Deserves Founding Her Basically University

Diversity is not one in the room. Diversity is not two in the room. Diversity is not three in the room. True diversity is half the room. Ava DuVernay

Three Diversity Half True Room Two

I don't understand the iPhone. I just don't get it. Don't ya'll have to write serious emails throughout the day? How can you possibly manage detailed missives on a phone with no keys? Ava DuVernay

Day You Phone Keys Emails Possibly Detailed Throughout Write Understand How iPhone Get Manage Just Serious

Artists should be free to create what we want. I believe there's a special value in work that is a reflection of oneself as opposed to interpretation. When I see a film or a TV show about black people not written by someone who's black, it's an interpretation of that life. Ava DuVernay

Life Work People Reflection Value Black Free Believe Interpretation TV TV Show See About Someone Oneself Written Opposed Artists Want Create Should Show Special Film

Every filmmaker imbues a movie with their own point of view. Ava DuVernay

Own Every Point Point Of View Movie View Filmmaker

I am honored to be one of this year's Urbanworld ambassadors for the festival's 20th anniversary, joining my friend David Oyelowo. I have always had a special relationship with Urbanworld, back to my days as a festival publicist to previewing my earlier films and now as an ambassador. Ava DuVernay

Oh gosh, I'm completely allergic to historical dramas. Particularly those around the civil-rights movement. It's not my favorite thing to watch. So often they feel like medicine. Or not even a history lesson, because I really like history. Just... obligatory. Ava DuVernay

History Allergic Lesson Medicine Dramas Those Favorite Favorite Thing Obligatory Feel Like Particularly Gosh Because Around Historical Often Oh Just Movement Really Even Thing Watch