I'm a prison abolitionist because the prison system as it is set up is just not working. It's horrible. Ava DuVernay abolitionisthorribleprison Change image and share on social
With the Black Lives Matter movement, a lot of the focus is on the protest and dissent. I'm hoping to dismantle the public notion - for folks outside of the community - of what Black Lives Matter means. It's really about saying that black lives matter: that humanity is the same when you go inside people's homes. Ava DuVernay blackcommunitydismantle share on social
If you're doing something outside of dominant culture, there's not an easy place for you. You will have to do it yourself. Ava DuVernay culturedominanteasy Change image and share on social
If I can be in a place where my image is encouraging people to see different people behind the camera, and my image and the images I make can help open up a certain world view, I think that's all a part of a larger spirit of change and progress, and I'm happy to be part of it. Ava DuVernay camerachangeencourage share on social
I financed and made my own films from the start. My path has been autonomous and independent, so I don't have any horror stories about glass ceilings and expectations and tense studio meetings. Ava DuVernay autonomousceilingexpectation Change image and share on social
Art morphs with what's going on in the world. We say 'Ferguson'; we don't say 'Mike Brown.' Just like we say 'Selma,' not 'Jimmie Lee Jackson.' There is something startling about the people in a particular place, a city or a small town, rising up and taking to the streets. Ava DuVernay artbrowncity share on social
I want to be an old lady, with my cane, shouting, 'Action!' and 'Cut!' Ava DuVernay actioncanecut Change image and share on social
One of the reasons why I created the podcast called the 'The Call-In' that we do through Array - because as a black artist, every time I sit down with mainstream media, I'm asked about issues of race, identity and culture. No one asked what they ask my white male counterparts, which is: 'Where do you like to put the camera?' Ava DuVernay arrayartistask share on social
I think that black people making art, women making art, and certainly black women making art is a disruptive endeavor - and it's one that I enjoy extremely. Ava DuVernay artblackdisruptive Change image and share on social
I'm a big people watcher and a people talker. The beautiful thing about being an artist and a creative person is that you can get an idea from anywhere, and I'm always on the hunt for them. Ava DuVernay artistbeautifulbig Change image and share on social