--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even in 2012, if there's a black…" description: "\"Even in 2012, if there's a black character in the movies or on television that's a professional, if we even hear about their backgrounds they're always..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/anonymous-1_backgrounds_even-in-2012-if-there-s-a-black-characte_3043880.jpg" --- # Even in 2012, if there's a black character in the movies… ![“Even in 2012, if there's a black character in the movies or on television that's a professional, if we even hear about their backgrounds they're always 'up from the streets.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/anonymous-1_backgrounds_even-in-2012-if-there-s-a-black-characte_3043880.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/anonymous-1_backgrounds_even-in-2012-if-there-s-a-black-characte_3043880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/anonymous-1_backgrounds_even-in-2012-if-there-s-a-black-characte_3043880.jpg) > “Even in 2012, if there's a black character in the movies or on television that's a professional, if we even hear about their backgrounds they're always 'up from the streets.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Black professionals are often portrayed as rising from the streets, limiting representation. **In simple terms:** Stereotypes limit representation. Key Takeaway Challenge narratives. Themes representation stereotype media Mood critical hopeful Type activist reflective When to use this quote - film - TV - casting - education Key Concepts cultural studies social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can media diversify portrayals? - What stories are missing? A Different Perspective Change is slow and industry‑driven. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [2012 Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/2012-black-5031077/) [Backgrounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backgrounds/) [Backgrounds Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backgrounds-streets-5031079/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-character-272583/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-movies-1039128/) [Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Television Professional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television-professional-5031078/) ## Related quotes > [If there was a black character in Clue, the game would be called Solved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-there-was-a-black-character-in-clue-the-game-would-be-called-solved/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are some movies you do for the character; there are some movies you do for the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kajal-aggarwal/there-are-some-movies-you-do-for-the-character-there-are-some-movies/) [Kajal Aggarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kajal-aggarwal/) > [There are two different forms of storytelling: Novels tend to come from the inside of a character, and movies tend to look at them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/there-are-two-different-forms-of-storytelling-novels-tend-to-come/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [Every character in each of my movies is a different side of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-bakshi/every-character-in-each-of-my-movies-is-a-different-side-of-myself/) [Ralph Bakshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-bakshi/) > [I always knew I wanted to be a character in the movies. When I was growing up, I had to have a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-ryan-evans/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-be-a-character-in-the-movies-when-i-was/) [Josh Ryan Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-ryan-evans/) > [“When a movie character is really working, we become that character. That’s what the movies offer: escapism into lives other than our own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/when-a-movie-character-is-really-working-we-become-that-character/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [I like doing character movies. I like doing movies about personal situations; that's what I love about dealing with things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-gluck/i-like-doing-character-movies-i-like-doing-movies-about-personal/) [Will Gluck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-gluck/) > [The description of my character in the first few movies I did was always 'nerdy,' but I liked that; it was way more interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/the-description-of-my-character-in-the-first-few-movies-i-did-was/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [A black character is much more than just a black character; he's a character, period. So show the world as it is. Even with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raoul-peck/a-black-character-is-much-more-than-just-a-black-character-he-s-a/) [Raoul Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raoul-peck/) > [There haven't been enough profound things written about what being black means and what a black character is. Nobody knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-earl-jones/there-haven-t-been-enough-profound-things-written-about-what-being/) [James Earl Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-earl-jones/) > [When I go to the movies, I'm expected to identify with all of the characters, and most of them are white. But when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/when-i-go-to-the-movies-i-m-expected-to-identify-with-all-of-the/) [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) > [It's incredibly important for the world to see a gay black character that's comfortable with themselves on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ncuti-gatwa/it-s-incredibly-important-for-the-world-to-see-a-gay-black-character/) [Ncuti Gatwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ncuti-gatwa/) > [I've been asked far too often, 'Can you be blacker?' I've gotten done with auditions and heard, 'We're not going to go black with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-faison/i-ve-been-asked-far-too-often-can-you-be-blacker-i-ve-gotten-done/) [Frankie Faison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-faison/) > [The whole Aleister Black character is a creation of my influences, Triple H and NXT, and everyone combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-black/the-whole-aleister-black-character-is-a-creation-of-my-influences/) [Aleister Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-black/) > [If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female-character-or-an-asian/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Backgrounds quotes > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [When you see how fragile and delicate life can be, all else fades into the background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/when-you-see-how-fragile-and-delicate-life-can-be-all-else-fades-into/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. It is about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/worship-is-not-about-personality-temperament-personal-limitations/) [John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/) > [Eventually the consumer will come to appreciate the editorial point of view of every different brand. User-generated content without editorial oversight will simply be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eisner/eventually-the-consumer-will-come-to-appreciate-the-editorial-point/) [Michael Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eisner/) > [I bring my classical training - some of it, but not all of it - and also my background and culture, to spirituals. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-battle/i-bring-my-classical-training-some-of-it-but-not-all-of-it-and-also/) [Kathleen Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-battle/) > [The acting background helped a lot when I started writing. I was training for it. In acting class they teach you about the stakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-higgins-clark/the-acting-background-helped-a-lot-when-i-started-writing-i-was/) [Carol Higgins Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-higgins-clark/) > [In the dim background of our mind we know meanwhile what we ought to be doing: getting up, dressing ourselves, answering the person who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/in-the-dim-background-of-our-mind-we-know-meanwhile-what-we-ought-to/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [I think it is a sin to look at another person as inferior to yourself because of race or because of ethnic background and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-think-it-is-a-sin-to-look-at-another-person-as-inferior-to-yourself/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [The thing that is making jazz healthy today is that people are coming out of other backgrounds - from rock, folk, from ethnic music.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-taylor/the-thing-that-is-making-jazz-healthy-today-is-that-people-are-coming/) [Billy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-taylor/) > [We do not have to be ashamed of what we are. As sentient beings we have wonderful backgrounds. These backgrounds may not be particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-do-not-have-to-be-ashamed-of-what-we-are-as-sentient-beings-we/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [People from my sort of background needed grammar schools to compete with children from privileged homes like Shirley Williams and Anthony Wedgwood Benn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/people-from-my-sort-of-background-needed-grammar-schools-to-compete/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [Persons who have cleansed themselves of any transgression and who have shown their ability to deal with homosexual inclinations and put them in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/persons-who-have-cleansed-themselves-of-any-transgression-and-who/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [I come from a theater background, so I always like to dissect the scene and try to get some hint about what the author…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adina-porter/i-come-from-a-theater-background-so-i-always-like-to-dissect-the/) [Adina Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adina-porter/) > [And, of course, some SF is set close enough to here and now that Anglo and European do apply. Since many of the writers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-schmidt/and-of-course-some-sf-is-set-close-enough-to-here-and-now-that-anglo/) [Stanley Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-schmidt/) > [For me, I try to look at a person's swagger and a little background on them if I already haven't liked them as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bivins/for-me-i-try-to-look-at-a-person-s-swagger-and-a-little-background-on/) [Michael Bivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bivins/) [Browse all 1,648 Backgrounds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backgrounds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even in 2012, if there's a black character in the movies or on television that's a professional, if we even hear about their backgrounds they're always 'up from the streets.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-in-2012-if-there-s-a-black-character-in-the-movies-or-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Backgrounds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-in-2012-if-there-s-a-black-character-in-the-movies-or-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/anonymous-1_backgrounds_even-in-2012-if-there-s-a-black-characte_3043880.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/anonymous-1_backgrounds_even-in-2012-if-there-s-a-black-characte_3043880.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf4/anonymous-1_backgrounds_even-in-2012-if-there-s-a-black-characte_3043880.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Even in 2012, if there's a black character in the movies or on television that's a professional, if we even…” — Anonymous", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Even in 2012, if there's a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-in-2012-if-there-s-a-black-character-in-the-movies-or-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-in-2012-if-there-s-a-black-character-in-the-movies-or-on/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```