--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is still an assumption among many…" description: "\"There is still an assumption among many people that to be black is to be lower class. In the last fifteen to twenty years, perhaps even further back th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ac/ayana-mathis-8325_assumption_there-is-still-an-assumption-among-many_2640629.jpg" --- # There is still an assumption among many people that to be… ![“There is still an assumption among many people that to be black is to be lower class. In the last fifteen to twenty years, perhaps even further back than that, there's also been an explosion of a very wealthy black class in the United States, but those people are often treated as special cases…” quote by Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ac/ayana-mathis-8325_assumption_there-is-still-an-assumption-among-many_2640629.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ac/ayana-mathis-8325_assumption_there-is-still-an-assumption-among-many_2640629.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ac/ayana-mathis-8325_assumption_there-is-still-an-assumption-among-many_2640629.jpg) > “There is still an assumption among many people that to be black is to be lower class. In the last fifteen to twenty years, perhaps even further back than that, there's also been an explosion of a very wealthy black class in the United States, but those people are often treated as special cases: they're athletes, entertainers. Jay-Z. Basketball players. The country metabolizes the fact these rich black people exist, but it seems only to reinforce the idea that every other black person is limping along in poverty.” [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the stereotype linking Black identity to low socioeconomic status, despite a growing affluent Black demographic often seen only as athletes or entertainers, reinforcing harmful generalizations. **In simple terms:** People assume Blackness equals poverty, ignoring wealthy Black individuals. Key Takeaway Challenge stereotypes by recognizing diverse Black experiences. Themes stereotypes class race media representation Mood critical reflective Type analytical social commentary When to use this quote - education - media coverage - policy making - community dialogue Key Concepts social perception economic disparity identity politics Questions to Reflect On - How do media portrayals shape our view of Black success? - What steps can we take to broaden representation? A Different Perspective The quote may overlook systemic barriers that still affect many Black people. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Ball player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ball-player/) [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-player/) [Basketball Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-players/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-class-2265905/) [Black people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-people/) [Black person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-person/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Lower class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lower-class/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-black/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Wealthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealthy/) [Wealthy Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealthy-black-2265904/) ## Related quotes > [There were class differences among black people then and there are class differences among black people now. There is still an assumption among many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/there-were-class-differences-among-black-people-then-and-there-are/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [The Nation of Islam was the biggest contributor to the Million Man March, but poor people gave their nickels, dimes and dollars; some wealthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/the-nation-of-islam-was-the-biggest-contributor-to-the-million-man/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [We got no wealthy black people. We got rich people. Shaq is rich. The guy who signs his checks is wealthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/we-got-no-wealthy-black-people-we-got-rich-people-shaq-is-rich-the/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [One of the reasons I paint black people is because I am a black person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/one-of-the-reasons-i-paint-black-people-is-because-i-am-a-black-person/) [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) > [I was always the only black in the movie theater, the only black in class, the only black in the library, the only black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/concha-buika/i-was-always-the-only-black-in-the-movie-theater-the-only-black-in/) [Concha Buika](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/concha-buika/) > [I went to University of Illinois. Big school. 35,000 students. 800 black... I was the only black in every class. Hard to be absent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/godfrey/i-went-to-university-of-illinois-big-school-35-000-students-800-black/) [Godfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/godfrey/) > [It only takes five people in black robes to determine such crucial issues for our country as abortion, pornography, same-sex 'marriage,' and religious liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-land/it-only-takes-five-people-in-black-robes-to-determine-such-crucial/) [Richard Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-land/) > [There's a long history of saying certain people shouldn't be voting. And, unfortunately, the people who are often left out of these conversations are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-lamont-hill/there-s-a-long-history-of-saying-certain-people-shouldn-t-be-voting/) [Marc Lamont Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-lamont-hill/) > [Color don't tell if people Black. It's the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/color-don-t-tell-if-people-black-it-s-the-soul/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [If all we are for is black people and white people who like black people, then I have nothing to say to Trump who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/if-all-we-are-for-is-black-people-and-white-people-who-like-black/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [Last year, when we were in Mobile, Al., covering Hurricane Ivan, we heard the stories of poor people, many of them black stranded downtown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-roker/last-year-when-we-were-in-mobile-al-covering-hurricane-ivan-we-heard/) [Al Roker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-roker/) > [I spent seven months in Africa and came back saying there isn't anything you can say about black people that you couldn't say about,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-rivers/i-spent-seven-months-in-africa-and-came-back-saying-there-isn-t/) [Larry Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-rivers/) > [Im happy to be black. I am what I am, Im doing very well in my life, and Im thankful to God for that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ll-cool-j/im-happy-to-be-black-i-am-what-i-am-im-doing-very-well-in-my-life-and/) [LL Cool J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ll-cool-j/) > [I've heard that Black people and Black faces don't sell magazines, but one day you're going to beg me to be on there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-ve-heard-that-black-people-and-black-faces-don-t-sell-magazines-but/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [I don't think of people as out-and-out black or white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabu/i-don-t-think-of-people-as-out-and-out-black-or-white/) [Tabu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabu/) ## More by Ayana Mathis > [“In one of the novel’s most dramatic and revealing chapters, Hattie leaves August with the older children and escapes with baby Ruthie (then called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/in-one-of-the-novel-s-most-dramatic-and-revealing-chapters-hattie/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [I think being consistent is really important. In the arts there's a misconception that you sit around waiting for the muse to come, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/i-think-being-consistent-is-really-important-in-the-arts-there-s-a/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [I think of my success as a kind of fluke. How else could I possibly think of it? And although it's a banal thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/i-think-of-my-success-as-a-kind-of-fluke-how-else-could-i-possibly/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [You have to find a way of shutting the future out and focusing on the writing. One of the problems I'll have with writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/you-have-to-find-a-way-of-shutting-the-future-out-and-focusing-on-the/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [I'm wary of being put in boxes. But at the same time, it's important that I embrace my identity as a writer who happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/i-m-wary-of-being-put-in-boxes-but-at-the-same-time-it-s-important/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [“Half of what’s wrong with people today is that they ain’t got no place to go that makes them peaceful. I don’t reckon you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/half-of-what-s-wrong-with-people-today-is-that-they-ain-t-got-no/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [“Bell lifted her hand to her chest. Her heart beat so quickly. She was floating out on a tide of agony, and soon she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/bell-lifted-her-hand-to-her-chest-her-heart-beat-so-quickly-she-was/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [Racial terrorism affects the lives of white people and black people and everyone, everything. Racism is contaminating. It can affect the dogs in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/racial-terrorism-affects-the-lives-of-white-people-and-black-people/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [“Hattie’s children died in the order in which they were born: first Philadelphia, then Jubilee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/hattie-s-children-died-in-the-order-in-which-they-were-born-first/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [“Six understood in that instant that he had something the ministers wanted and it had given him power among them. He had never been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/six-understood-in-that-instant-that-he-had-something-the-ministers/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [I really, deeply believe in the primacy of character. I believe that my job as a writer is to put a believable human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/i-really-deeply-believe-in-the-primacy-of-character-i-believe-that-my/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [“I go above deck to watch the sky darken into twilight. It helps me remember that this strange place is still the earth, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/i-go-above-deck-to-watch-the-sky-darken-into-twilight-it-helps-me/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [“Bell had been disdainful of them; she’d thought them small and ordinary. She’d taken such pleasure in saying no to their proposals and breaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/bell-had-been-disdainful-of-them-she-d-thought-them-small-and/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [“Hattie clambered from the train, her skirt still hemmed with Georgia mud, the dream of Philadelphia round as a marble in her mouth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/hattie-clambered-from-the-train-her-skirt-still-hemmed-with-georgia/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) > [Even if you don't feel like sitting down to write or working on that big proposal, or whatever it is, just show up anyhow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayana-mathis/even-if-you-don-t-feel-like-sitting-down-to-write-or-working-on-that/) [Ayana Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) [Explore all 82 Ayana Mathis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayana-mathis/) ## More Assumption quotes > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [It's difficult for people to come to the understanding that only a small minority of the people ever really get the word about life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/it-s-difficult-for-people-to-come-to-the-understanding-that-only-a/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [Neither novels or their readers benefit from any attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/neither-novels-or-their-readers-benefit-from-any-attempts-to-divine/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) [Richard Doll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-doll/) > [Fortunately, the mind is restless; when it uncovers a layer of its own deception, gives up an illusion, exposes a lie, it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-chernin/fortunately-the-mind-is-restless-when-it-uncovers-a-layer-of-its-own/) [Kim Chernin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-chernin/) > [The possibility of saying anything about a thing rests on the assumption that it preserves its identity, or continues to be the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-knight/the-possibility-of-saying-anything-about-a-thing-rests-on-the/) [Frank Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-knight/) > [She spent hours drawing on her own, trying to perfect her craft. And when she got into music, she had that same diligence in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-joplin/she-spent-hours-drawing-on-her-own-trying-to-perfect-her-craft-and/) [Laura Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-joplin/) > [If they are, then the only ultimate truths are the particulars of concrete experience, and no postulate or general assumption is inherent in science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/if-they-are-then-the-only-ultimate-truths-are-the-particulars-of/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Leadership, pure and simple, is the assumption of responsibility for the pursuit of excellence in group life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-selznick/leadership-pure-and-simple-is-the-assumption-of-responsibility-for/) [Philip Selznick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-selznick/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [When I see a fan coming over, I can't help but make an assumption about what they want to talk about. A middle-aged American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/when-i-see-a-fan-coming-over-i-can-t-help-but-make-an-assumption/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [The Bell curve is a fact of life. The blacks on average score 85 per cent on IQ and it is accurate, nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/the-bell-curve-is-a-fact-of-life-the-blacks-on-average-score-85-per/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [Pussy Riot have certainly changed some people's assumptions about the role of political art and the relationship between the intelligentsia and the church. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/pussy-riot-have-certainly-changed-some-people-s-assumptions-about-the/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) [Browse all 1,277 Assumption quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is still an assumption among many people that to be black is to be lower class. In the last fifteen to twenty years, perhaps even further back than that, there's also been an explosion of a very wealthy black class in the United States, but those people are often treated as special cases: they're athletes, entertainers. Jay-Z. Basketball players. 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