I don't want an underachiever working on my car's transmission. Why would I want someone regular sitting in the Oval Office? Sorry, give me somebody who has demonstrated a capacity to excel. John Ridley capacitycardemonstrate Change image and share on social
Being of color in America by no means amounts to a constant barrage of negativity. However, unlike being white, being of color means one's race is a constant issue. John Ridley americaamountbarrage Change image and share on social
I don't think I'm alarmist. I'm more disappointed by the euphemisms in some instances than outright bigotry. Now, to me, you walk around with a Klan hat on or you've got a swastika on you arm, you just look like a dope, you know what I mean? John Ridley alarmistarmbigotry share on social
Oh, happy day when the enemies of ascendancy have got to confess that people of color rock. John Ridley ascendancycolorconfess Change image and share on social
I've written films that are violent. I'm not big on sitting and watching violence. John Ridley bigfilmhave Change image and share on social
With fear of stating the obvious: Freedom belongs to 'We the People,' not 'They the Politicians.' John Ridley belongfearfreedom Change image and share on social
If art is singular expression, then by nature, the best art is controversial. But when art stirs debate for reasons besides its artistic integrity, that's when things get bent. John Ridley artartisticbend Change image and share on social
From the moment we were first dumped in Jamestown and had our teeth checked before getting sold off and later considered three-fifths of a human being, an abundance of 'likability' hasn't been something blacks have had to stockpile. Instead, it's been a centuries-long battle for respectability. John Ridley abundancebattleblack share on social
Reactionary conservatives are smiling through the racial apocalypse. To them, race baiting is a joke, as 'humorist' Rush Limbaugh will tell you when he's calling Mexicans 'stupid.' Or it's a matter of semantics when they claim that Sonia Sotomayor is a 'racialist' which, far as I can tell, is the smooth jazz version of being a racist. John Ridley apocalypsebaitcall share on social
As an individual, and I have to say as a person of color, the thing about being an 'other' in America is I really feel like you're bilingual. I'm from a small town in Wisconsin, but even when I'm in New York and I'm working for MSNBC or CNN, you're used to being the only black person in the room. John Ridley americabilingualblack share on social