--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a matter of fact they'd blacken us…" description: "\"As a matter of fact they'd blacken us down. I guess there's a reason that according to what the Caucasian wanted us to look like. He wanted us to look-..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc4/billy-eckstine-22556_according_as-a-matter-of-fact-they-d-blacken-us-do_340340.jpg" --- # As a matter of fact they'd blacken us down. I guess… ![“As a matter of fact they'd blacken us down. I guess there's a reason that according to what the Caucasian wanted us to look like. He wanted us to look-if we were Black, then he had his idea of what we look like.” quote by Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc4/billy-eckstine-22556_according_as-a-matter-of-fact-they-d-blacken-us-do_340340.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc4/billy-eckstine-22556_according_as-a-matter-of-fact-they-d-blacken-us-do_340340.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc4/billy-eckstine-22556_according_as-a-matter-of-fact-they-d-blacken-us-do_340340.jpg) > “As a matter of fact they'd blacken us down. I guess there's a reason that according to what the Caucasian wanted us to look like. He wanted us to look-if we were Black, then he had his idea of what we look like.” [Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker critiques how dominant groups impose narrow stereotypes on Black identity, forcing a singular visual representation. **In simple terms:** Society often forces one image of Blackness. Key Takeaway Resist imposed stereotypes. Themes identity race representation power stereotype Mood defiant thoughtful critical Type social political When to use this quote - media casting - fashion industry - educational curricula - political discourse Key Concepts racial politics image control social conformity Questions to Reflect On - How can we broaden representation? - What role does media play in shaping identity? A Different Perspective Counterpoint: Some argue stereotypes can be reclaimed positively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [Look at me you see BLACK. I look at you I see WHITE. Now is the time to kick that away and join me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucky-dube/look-at-me-you-see-black-i-look-at-you-i-see-white-now-is-the-time-to/) [Lucky Dube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucky-dube/) > [I look into my own black heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/i-look-into-my-own-black-heart/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“What's that you mutter to yourself, Matthew Maule?" asked Scicpio. "And what for do you look so black at me?" "No matter, darky," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/what-s-that-you-mutter-to-yourself-matthew-maule-asked-scicpio-and/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [I have never really understood why in this country so many people look down on black people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/i-have-never-really-understood-why-in-this-country-so-many-people/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [I'm of African descent and my sister looks completely black, but I didn't look black. I was the super-nerdy kid who was also willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-m-of-african-descent-and-my-sister-looks-completely-black-but-i/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“I am black but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Look not upon me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-t-plaatje/i-am-black-but-comely-o-ye-daughters-of-jerusalem-as-the-tents-of/) [Sol T. Plaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-t-plaatje/) > [The race is your face. Obviously, I come from a mixed background. Who I am and how I look and being black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/the-race-is-your-face-obviously-i-come-from-a-mixed-background-who-i/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [Look how black the sky is, the writer said. I made it that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-easton-ellis/look-how-black-the-sky-is-the-writer-said-i-made-it-that-way/) [Bret Easton Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-easton-ellis/) > [I think that people assumed I was white because of my last name. My father is Caucasian, my mother is Hispanic. But English was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-zimmerman/i-think-that-people-assumed-i-was-white-because-of-my-last-name-my/) [George Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-zimmerman/) > [I'm half-Chinese and half-Caucasian. My grandparents came here from China. My father was born in New Jersey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillipa-soo/i-m-half-chinese-and-half-caucasian-my-grandparents-came-here-from/) [Phillipa Soo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillipa-soo/) > [If I could rap, that would be a sensation, but I can't, you see, I'm just a Caucasian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-stiles/if-i-could-rap-that-would-be-a-sensation-but-i-can-t-you-see-i-m-just/) [Ryan Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-stiles/) > [If you're a beautiful Caucasian woman, and you commit a heinous crime, it's like people don't want to acknowledge the reality of your actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alissa-nutting/if-you-re-a-beautiful-caucasian-woman-and-you-commit-a-heinous-crime/) [Alissa Nutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alissa-nutting/) > [“Glancing up at Jude, I found him looking at me, staring at me like he couldn't help it. Maybe that's because I could have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/glancing-up-at-jude-i-found-him-looking-at-me-staring-at-me-like-he/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) > [I grew up in a predominantly Caucasian neighborhood, but my mom is Filipino-Spanish and my dad is Irish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/i-grew-up-in-a-predominantly-caucasian-neighborhood-but-my-mom-is/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [You have six math Ph.D. Caucasian gentlemen from the Northeast of the country, great. You put one more in the mix, you haven't added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallie-krawcheck/you-have-six-math-ph-d-caucasian-gentlemen-from-the-northeast-of-the/) [Sallie Krawcheck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallie-krawcheck/) ## More by Billy Eckstine > [Piano should be the one. Yeah, because that's your basis. Everything is right there in front of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eckstine/piano-should-be-the-one-yeah-because-that-s-your-basis-everything-is/) [Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) > [... Geniuses have a little extra something. There's that little something that you know is a little different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eckstine/geniuses-have-a-little-extra-something-there-s-that-little-something/) [Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) > [I'm not much on gimmicks. I never have been because they don't last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eckstine/i-m-not-much-on-gimmicks-i-never-have-been-because-they-don-t-last/) [Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) > [My youngest daughter sings. She's going to be very good. She's graduated from Music School and she's been working down around and getting her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eckstine/my-youngest-daughter-sings-she-s-going-to-be-very-good-she-s/) [Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) > [When you're playing music, say for instance, you're playing a part of the band and you're looking at your music, your horn is down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eckstine/when-you-re-playing-music-say-for-instance-you-re-playing-a-part-of/) [Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) > [I'm used to hearing myself. My own voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eckstine/i-m-used-to-hearing-myself-my-own-voice/) [Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) > [When you're playing music, say for instance, you're playing a part of the band and you're looking at your music, your horn is down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eckstine/when-you-re-playing-music-say-for-instance-you-re-playing-a-part-of-2/) [Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) > [I was so enamored with the idea of being in show business so everything was bright to me. I mean, I didn't think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eckstine/i-was-so-enamored-with-the-idea-of-being-in-show-business-so/) [Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) > [You can't sing about love unless you know about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eckstine/you-can-t-sing-about-love-unless-you-know-about-it/) [Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) > [I just went to Harvard a little while, because I graduated from Armstrong High School in Washington and then I went up there but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eckstine/i-just-went-to-harvard-a-little-while-because-i-graduated-from/) [Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) > [If you want to be a doctor, a lawyer you must go to college. But if you want to be a musician or such,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eckstine/if-you-want-to-be-a-doctor-a-lawyer-you-must-go-to-college-but-if-you/) [Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) > [My view is that you cannot close your mind and say I don't want to listen to this or that. Because if you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eckstine/my-view-is-that-you-cannot-close-your-mind-and-say-i-don-t-want-to/) [Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) > [Oh, yeah. I know Dizzy. For years he's been my buddy way, way, way back. Dizzy is one of the most astute guys and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eckstine/oh-yeah-i-know-dizzy-for-years-he-s-been-my-buddy-way-way-way-back/) [Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) > [I was still in school at the time and Cab was very popular and everybody was doing Cab Calloway so I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eckstine/i-was-still-in-school-at-the-time-and-cab-was-very-popular-and/) [Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) > [It taught me something. It taught you your craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eckstine/it-taught-me-something-it-taught-you-your-craft/) [Billy Eckstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) [Explore all 27 Billy Eckstine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eckstine/) ## More According quotes > [If you want to to be a smart cricketer, you have to play according to the situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardik-pandya/if-you-want-to-to-be-a-smart-cricketer-you-have-to-play-according-to/) [Hardik Pandya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardik-pandya/) > [“life can seem either very long or very short, according to how you live it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/life-can-seem-either-very-long-or-very-short-according-to-how-you/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Modern capitalism seeks to assure us that it operates according to the principles of free creativity, endless development and diversity. 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I don't judge my relationship with Puff or Bad Boy according to other people or past artists. At the end of the day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/french-montana/umm-i-don-t-judge-my-relationship-with-puff-or-bad-boy-according-to/) [French Montana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/french-montana/) > [When Caroline Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 as her father's rightful heir, she laid upon him the mantle of Camelot and the enduring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-kelley/when-caroline-kennedy-endorsed-barack-obama-in-2008-as-her-father-s/) [Kitty Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-kelley/) > [I believe the game should really feel what the players are feeling and change according to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideo-kojima/i-believe-the-game-should-really-feel-what-the-players-are-feeling/) [Hideo Kojima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hideo-kojima/) > [The Muslim world just doesn't believe that skin color is all that important. Obama may be half-black, but he's still all-Western, according to them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/the-muslim-world-just-doesn-t-believe-that-skin-color-is-all-that/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [According to me, art is honest and free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shriya-saran/according-to-me-art-is-honest-and-free/) [Shriya Saran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shriya-saran/) > [I think a fictional invention grows according to its own development, not the author's. 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