--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Frankly, I think that's something that…" description: "\"Frankly, I think that's something that black people in America have often done - finding ways under very, very difficult circumstances to be subversive..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/andre-holland-10514_also_frankly-i-think-that-s-something-that-bl_2200609.jpg" --- # Frankly, I think that's something that black people in… ![“Frankly, I think that's something that black people in America have often done - finding ways under very, very difficult circumstances to be subversive, but also to push things forward. And I think that applies to music. I think it applies to dance. I think it applies to a number of things.” quote by Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/andre-holland-10514_also_frankly-i-think-that-s-something-that-bl_2200609.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/andre-holland-10514_also_frankly-i-think-that-s-something-that-bl_2200609.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/986/andre-holland-10514_also_frankly-i-think-that-s-something-that-bl_2200609.jpg) > “Frankly, I think that's something that black people in America have often done - finding ways under very, very difficult circumstances to be subversive, but also to push things forward. And I think that applies to music. I think it applies to dance. I think it applies to a number of things.” [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Black Americans have historically used creativity and subversion to thrive under hardship, influencing music, dance, and other fields. **In simple terms:** Black people have turned tough situations into creative breakthroughs in arts and beyond. Key Takeaway Recognize and honor resilient creativity. Themes culture resilience innovation Mood inspirational reflective Type cultural motivational When to use this quote - community arts programs - educational curricula - social justice initiatives - creative entrepreneurship Key Concepts subversion artistic expression social change Questions to Reflect On - How does subversive creativity impact social progress? - In what ways can this legacy be supported today? A Different Perspective Focusing only on adversity may overlook systemic issues that need change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Black people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-people/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Difficult circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-circumstances/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Subversive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subversive/) ## Related quotes > [I like Sam Smith and Taylor Swift. I love pop music, but I also like Sam Smith's slow songs. That would be more to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-ziegler/i-like-sam-smith-and-taylor-swift-i-love-pop-music-but-i-also-like/) [Maddie Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddie-ziegler/) > [Honestly, without art and dance, I think I would be a very safe, black-and-white thinker. I wouldn't dare to take any risks or see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-stoner/honestly-without-art-and-dance-i-think-i-would-be-a-very-safe-black/) [Alyson Stoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-stoner/) > [“And, this is where the dancing comes in. We can dance around the “I can do this, I can’t do this, I think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-seifert/and-this-is-where-the-dancing-comes-in-we-can-dance-around-the-i-can/) Melinda Seifert > [“You dance?” “I think that might be overly optimistic,” he said. “I do something. I’ll try not to hurt you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-carr/you-dance-i-think-that-might-be-overly-optimistic-he-said-i-do/) [Robyn Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-carr/) > [When I look at the people who are the guiding figures in modern dance, I think, 'This does not look to me like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/when-i-look-at-the-people-who-are-the-guiding-figures-in-modern-dance/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [“Like I said, at Williamson I'm cool by default because I'm black. I can go out there and do a silly dance move I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/like-i-said-at-williamson-i-m-cool-by-default-because-i-m-black-i-can/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [I can secretly dance, I think. 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The clothes for dancing not only make you feel like somebody else, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blanca-li/i-love-costumes-in-dance-i-think-it-s-very-important-the-clothes-for/) [Blanca Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blanca-li/) > [Maybe we can use a metaphor for it, out of dance. I think for many years I was aware of the need, in dance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-olds/maybe-we-can-use-a-metaphor-for-it-out-of-dance-i-think-for-many/) [Sharon Olds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-olds/) > [People ask me who I'd like to dance with. I think that Lucy Fallon - she's seems... She's a good height. I saw her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-pritchard/people-ask-me-who-i-d-like-to-dance-with-i-think-that-lucy-fallon-she/) [A. J. Pritchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-pritchard/) > [Dance was one of the things that led me to acting even though I say I fell in love with acting fairly early on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/dance-was-one-of-the-things-that-led-me-to-acting-even-though-i-say-i/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) ## More by Andre Holland > [All the craft skills that I have, I feel like I developed and honed in drama school. It's the most important thing for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/all-the-craft-skills-that-i-have-i-feel-like-i-developed-and-honed-in/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [I studied acting in NYU's graduate program, in which we covered everything from Ibsen and Chekov to August Wilson and David Mamet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/i-studied-acting-in-nyu-s-graduate-program-in-which-we-covered/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [I love to sing. I'm definitely not a very good singer, but when I'm in my shower I get down for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/i-love-to-sing-i-m-definitely-not-a-very-good-singer-but-when-i-m-in/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [Everybody gathered at my Aunt Hannah's house, and we sat around and talked, ate, drank and told lies. 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The… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/the-way-people-are-responding-to-moonlight-movie-is-something-we/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [I read a lot of W.E.B. Du Bois, who wrote 'The Souls of Black Folk.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/i-read-a-lot-of-w-e-b-du-bois-who-wrote-the-souls-of-black-folk/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [Politically, nowadays, as we know and feel, we are similarly underrepresented and not heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/politically-nowadays-as-we-know-and-feel-we-are-similarly/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [I started out doing a lot of theater, a lot of Shakespeare, classic plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/i-started-out-doing-a-lot-of-theater-a-lot-of-shakespeare-classic/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [I just want to play interesting characters, and I want to work with the best directors I can work with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/i-just-want-to-play-interesting-characters-and-i-want-to-work-with/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [When you live in an environment where you aren't allowed to be fully who you are, you aren't taken seriously, and you aren't respected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/when-you-live-in-an-environment-where-you-aren-t-allowed-to-be-fully/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [In '42,' it's like the '40s where racial equality had come into the consciousness of a lot of people, whereas in the 1900s it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/in-42-it-s-like-the-40s-where-racial-equality-had-come-into-the/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [When you're playing Shakespeare, it forces you to think and feel and speak all at the same time, which really is what acting is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/when-you-re-playing-shakespeare-it-forces-you-to-think-and-feel-and/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) > [Whenever I have a play or opening or anything going on in my career, my parents always come up and see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/whenever-i-have-a-play-or-opening-or-anything-going-on-in-my-career/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) [Explore all 65 Andre Holland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) ## More Also quotes > [I'm a workaholic, but I also like to vacation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karrueche-tran/i-m-a-workaholic-but-i-also-like-to-vacation/) [Karrueche Tran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karrueche-tran/) > [I've also directed, shot, and edited several music videos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-king/i-ve-also-directed-shot-and-edited-several-music-videos/) [Richard King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-king/) > [Movies have power. 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