Ava DuVernay Is Not Ashamed Of Labeling Herself As A 'Black Woman Filmmaker'

In an interview for AOL’s MAKERS series, Ava DuVernay shared her thoughts on the lack of women in film and how her identity as a black woman filmmaker.

“I know and I’ve heard of people saying, ‘I don’t want to be defined as a woman filmmaker’ or ‘I don’t want to be defined as a black filmmaker,’ all good with me, but I want to be defined as a ‘black woman filmmaker,’ because that’s the lens through which I’m working,” she said.

DuVernay asserts that people shouldn't have to hide their identity to fit into the structure of mainstream culture.

“That is my gaze. I’m proud of it. I don’t feel like it’s any less or limiting. I’m a black woman filmmaker and my films are just as valid as the white man filmmaker and whoever else,” she added.