--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like vampires and extremely rich people…" description: "\"“Like vampires and extremely rich people, black folk can sense one another. Use your Spidey Sense (Blacky Sense?). Use your blackdar to inspect the wor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/baratunde-thurston-20128_biggest-mistake_like-vampires-and-extremely-rich-people_1646383.jpg" --- # Like vampires and extremely rich people, black folk can… ![“Like vampires and extremely rich people, black folk can sense one another. Use your Spidey Sense (Blacky Sense?). Use your blackdar to inspect the workplace for signs of Other Negroes. They may be working security for the building. They may be in administrative support. They may be among the…” quote by Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/baratunde-thurston-20128_biggest-mistake_like-vampires-and-extremely-rich-people_1646383.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/baratunde-thurston-20128_biggest-mistake_like-vampires-and-extremely-rich-people_1646383.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/baratunde-thurston-20128_biggest-mistake_like-vampires-and-extremely-rich-people_1646383.jpg) > ““Like vampires and extremely rich people, black folk can sense one another. Use your Spidey Sense (Blacky Sense?). Use your blackdar to inspect the workplace for signs of Other Negroes. They may be working security for the building. They may be in administrative support. They may be among the associate pool, or they may even be in upper management. Black folk can be anywhere. After all, you're here. But one of the biggest mistakes you can make as The Black Employee is to assume you are the only one.”” [Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/) ## 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 must recognize they are not isolated; solidarity and awareness are essential. **In simple terms:** You’re not alone at work. Key Takeaway Seek community and allies. Themes diversity solidarity workplace identity Mood empowering thoughtful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - corporate hiring - team building - mentorship programs Key Concepts intersectionality social networks Questions to Reflect On - How can you support Black colleagues? - What structures foster true inclusion? A Different Perspective Risk of tokenism without genuine inclusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biggest mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-mistake/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Rich people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-people/) [Satire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satire/) ## Related quotes > [“Another black employee who has worked for the Justice Department for decades said to me that “there is no justice left in Justice under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fund/another-black-employee-who-has-worked-for-the-justice-department-for/) [John Fund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fund/) > [Black folk, a lot of us lived as victims in a certain part of our history. And we had to really erase that tape.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-cotton/black-folk-a-lot-of-us-lived-as-victims-in-a-certain-part-of-our/) Dorothy Cotton > [“The black church is quite literally a sounding board for vetting ideas and voicing frustrations so black folk can stay sane in the midst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/the-black-church-is-quite-literally-a-sounding-board-for-vetting/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [You got two black folk representing us through the Sixties. One of them was for violence, one was against it, and they both are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/you-got-two-black-folk-representing-us-through-the-sixties-one-of/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [“Most black folk get the moral intent of black prophecy and believe that they and their divine mouthpieces have a God-given right to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/most-black-folk-get-the-moral-intent-of-black-prophecy-and-believe/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [“You’ve been handed a history where you got most of the land, made most of the money, got most of the presumptions of goodness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/you-ve-been-handed-a-history-where-you-got-most-of-the-land-made-most/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [“Their sermons help black folk resist the evil seductions of white supremacy. Very few members go away from such homilies without hope for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/their-sermons-help-black-folk-resist-the-evil-seductions-of-white/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [I'm black, so, you know, I'm again with black folk, but it's a love that spills over to vanilla suburbs and red reservations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-m-black-so-you-know-i-m-again-with-black-folk-but-it-s-a-love-that/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [“When black folk say “Black Lives Matter,” they are in search of simple recognition. That they are decent human beings, that they aren’t likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/when-black-folk-say-black-lives-matter-they-are-in-search-of-simple/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [And no book gives a deeper insight into the inner life of the Negro, his struggles and his aspirations, than, The Souls of Black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stannard-baker/and-no-book-gives-a-deeper-insight-into-the-inner-life-of-the-negro/) [Ray Stannard Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stannard-baker/) > [Black folk who don't realize I'm mixed will treat me like I'm some racist person, or when white people find out I'm black, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logic/black-folk-who-don-t-realize-i-m-mixed-will-treat-me-like-i-m-some/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logic/) > [Each day when you see us black folk upon the dusty land of your farm or upon the hard pavement of your city streets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wright/each-day-when-you-see-us-black-folk-upon-the-dusty-land-of-your-farm/) [Richard Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wright/) > [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/) > [There is a black folk music audience. They're just very small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhiannon-giddens/there-is-a-black-folk-music-audience-they-re-just-very-small/) [Rhiannon Giddens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhiannon-giddens/) > [You tellin me, I try to act broke, jealousy the number one killer among black folk, fellas be under some type of spell like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mf-doom/you-tellin-me-i-try-to-act-broke-jealousy-the-number-one-killer-among/) [MF Doom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mf-doom/) ## More by Baratunde Thurston > [I am not a yogi yet, but I aspire to have more balance in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baratunde-thurston/i-am-not-a-yogi-yet-but-i-aspire-to-have-more-balance-in-my-life/) [Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/) > [2010 Foursquare Mayor Of The Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baratunde-thurston/2010-foursquare-mayor-of-the-year/) [Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/) > [Remember something about attention. Yes, it’s possible to buy, grab, or even steal it. But it’s far better to earn it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baratunde-thurston/remember-something-about-attention-yes-it-s-possible-to-buy-grab-or/) [Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/) > ["Black culture" is ready for whatever. I sense some momentum and excitement around black artists (especially in comedy, which is where most of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baratunde-thurston/black-culture-is-ready-for-whatever-i-sense-some-momentum-and/) [Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/) > [“Never mind that it's not owned by a black person anymore. You can still learn a lot from BET. Primarily, you will learn that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baratunde-thurston/never-mind-that-it-s-not-owned-by-a-black-person-anymore-you-can/) [Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/) > [You can call me namastunde or surfatunde. Either works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baratunde-thurston/you-can-call-me-namastunde-or-surfatunde-either-works/) [Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/) > [My family life and early political life - being exposed to the news constantly, being enrolled in an Afrocentric education program, and doing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baratunde-thurston/my-family-life-and-early-political-life-being-exposed-to-the-news/) [Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/) > [“You will be very visible in the company photo, also the website and any other marketing materials. There's no way to avoid it. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baratunde-thurston/you-will-be-very-visible-in-the-company-photo-also-the-website-and/) [Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/) > [I work in comedy, journalism, media, and technology, many of which don't have a lot of black faces in visible positions. I walk through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baratunde-thurston/i-work-in-comedy-journalism-media-and-technology-many-of-which-don-t/) [Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/) > [ Knowing that "me" is inextricably linked to blackness, \[I try to enjoy\] the process of expanding beyond the expected boundaries set by existing culture,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baratunde-thurston/knowing-that-me-is-inextricably-linked-to-blackness-i-try-to-enjoy/) [Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/) > [I don't know that I'm post-anything. I'd like to think maybe I'm post-bullshit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baratunde-thurston/i-don-t-know-that-i-m-post-anything-i-d-like-to-think-maybe-i-m-post/) [Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/) > [I care about the diversity of the mindset of the people creating our future, and the windows through which we see it, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baratunde-thurston/i-care-about-the-diversity-of-the-mindset-of-the-people-creating-our/) [Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/) > [New York has been the best gift, in that the city pushes me to so many next levels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baratunde-thurston/new-york-has-been-the-best-gift-in-that-the-city-pushes-me-to-so-many/) [Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/) > [ There's certainly a lot of noise in the hip-hop world now \[that\] I don't pay active attention to, but to the extent that I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baratunde-thurston/there-s-certainly-a-lot-of-noise-in-the-hip-hop-world-now-that-i-don/) [Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/) > [By the time I got to Harvard, I feel like I knew who I was, and my job there was to throw as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baratunde-thurston/by-the-time-i-got-to-harvard-i-feel-like-i-knew-who-i-was-and-my-job/) [Baratunde Thurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/) [Explore all 30 Baratunde Thurston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baratunde-thurston/) ## More Biggest mistake quotes > [The biggest mistake girls make is thinking the guy who hurt them once wont do it again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-biggest-mistake-girls-make-is-thinking-the-guy-who-hurt-them-once/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The biggest mistake I see with people who are new to CrossFit is trying to advance too quickly. Just because you can do a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-fraser/the-biggest-mistake-i-see-with-people-who-are-new-to-crossfit-is/) [Mat Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-fraser/) > [If you leave the one you love angry,without saying I Love You, or Goodbye, It could be the most biggest mistake of your life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-stewart/if-you-leave-the-one-you-love-angry-without-saying-i-love-you-or/) Joy Stewart > [My biggest mistake is love you and take you for granted. I'll regret it forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-biggest-mistake-is-love-you-and-take-you-for-granted-i-ll-regret/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The biggest mistake people make when trying to be authentic is just that: they try. They see these role models of what an "authentic"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/the-biggest-mistake-people-make-when-trying-to-be-authentic-is-just/) [Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/) > [I had a couple of agents, but then I went on my own. I thought I could negotiate my own deals and it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-grobbelaar/i-had-a-couple-of-agents-but-then-i-went-on-my-own-i-thought-i-could/) [Bruce Grobbelaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-grobbelaar/) > [The biggest mistake I've seen people make with their careers is, when they're good, after two or three years - and they happen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/the-biggest-mistake-i-ve-seen-people-make-with-their-careers-is-when/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [The press keep asking me, 'What was your biggest mistake?' But if I had made a big mistake, they'd all be writing about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/the-press-keep-asking-me-what-was-your-biggest-mistake-but-if-i-had/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [The galleries are full of critics. They play no ball, they fight no fights. They make no mistakes because they attempt nothing. Down in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-m-shoup/the-galleries-are-full-of-critics-they-play-no-ball-they-fight-no/) [David M. Shoup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-shoup/) > [“I’m sorry, babe. I’m sorry I hurt you. I was stupid. I fucked up. I thought I was doing you a favor by keeping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-abel/i-m-sorry-babe-i-m-sorry-i-hurt-you-i-was-stupid-i-fucked-up-i/) [E.M. Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-abel/) > [“The biggest mistake we commit in life is to think that others will get affected by our action and we shall leave some effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himmilicious/the-biggest-mistake-we-commit-in-life-is-to-think-that-others-will/) Himmilicious > [“At the beginning of the semester, when you asked who I loved the most, an image of my mother popped in my head. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brianne/at-the-beginning-of-the-semester-when-you-asked-who-i-loved-the-most/) [Sarah Brianne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brianne/) > [“Truly Falling In Love With you is not one of the greatest mistake of my Life but Trusting you madly is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kashi-khan/truly-falling-in-love-with-you-is-not-one-of-the-greatest-mistake-of/) Kashi khan > [I thought doing reality TV would be the greatest success of my life or the biggest mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethenny-frankel/i-thought-doing-reality-tv-would-be-the-greatest-success-of-my-life/) [Bethenny Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethenny-frankel/) > [Is that your ex? No, that's the biggest mistake of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-martin/is-that-your-ex-no-that-s-the-biggest-mistake-of-my-life/) [Brandon Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-martin/) [Browse all 337 Biggest mistake quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-mistake/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Like vampires and extremely rich people, black folk can sense one another. Use your Spidey Sense (Blacky Sense?). Use your blackdar to inspect the workplace for signs of Other Negroes. They may be working security for the building. They may be in administrative support. They may be among the associate pool, or they may even be in upper management. Black folk can be anywhere. After all, you're here. 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