--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For some reason, we're brainwashed to…" description: "\"For some reason, we're brainwashed to think if you're not a thug or an idiot, you're not black enough. If you go to school, make good grades, speak int..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/charles-barkley-1266_black-person_for-some-reason-we-re-brainwashed-to-thi_829635.jpg" --- # For some reason, we're brainwashed to think if you're not… ![“For some reason, we're brainwashed to think if you're not a thug or an idiot, you're not black enough. If you go to school, make good grades, speak intelligent, and don't break the law, you're not a good black person.” quote by Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/charles-barkley-1266_black-person_for-some-reason-we-re-brainwashed-to-thi_829635.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/charles-barkley-1266_black-person_for-some-reason-we-re-brainwashed-to-thi_829635.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/charles-barkley-1266_black-person_for-some-reason-we-re-brainwashed-to-thi_829635.jpg) > “For some reason, we're brainwashed to think if you're not a thug or an idiot, you're not black enough. If you go to school, make good grades, speak intelligent, and don't break the law, you're not a good black person.” [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal stereotypes pressure Black men to fit narrow, harmful images, devaluing diverse experiences. **In simple terms:** Stereotypes limit Black identity. Key Takeaway Challenge and broaden stereotypes. Themes race identity stereotypes Mood critical empathetic Type social motivational When to use this quote - education - workplace - media representation - community dialogue Key Concepts sociology media influence Questions to Reflect On - How do you define “good” Black identity? - What steps can dismantle harmful stereotypes? A Different Perspective Changing deep-rooted biases is slow and met resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good grades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-grades/) [Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiot/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [“As with most voluntary school integration programs, dispersal of the black children was the norm. In Portland, no more than forty-five black children were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-bell/as-with-most-voluntary-school-integration-programs-dispersal-of-the/) [Derrick Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-bell/) > [At University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, I was one of the first Blacks there. I didn't go to a Black school until my junior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathew-knowles/at-university-of-tennessee-at-chattanooga-i-was-one-of-the-first/) [Mathew Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathew-knowles/) > [As a teenager I just wanted to fit in, just to be one of the boys. It was tough. I went to an all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-shakes/as-a-teenager-i-just-wanted-to-fit-in-just-to-be-one-of-the-boys-it/) [Ronnie Shakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-shakes/) > [I grew up in a small town and never went to a Black school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathew-knowles/i-grew-up-in-a-small-town-and-never-went-to-a-black-school/) [Mathew Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathew-knowles/) > [In the early 1970s in Atlanta, I attended what had formerly been an all-white school but had become a black school after integration and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-trethewey/in-the-early-1970s-in-atlanta-i-attended-what-had-formerly-been-an/) [Natasha Trethewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-trethewey/) > [I remember integrating the all-white Yazoo City High School after my Black school closed its doors. Teachers sprayed me with fire extinguishers, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-espy/i-remember-integrating-the-all-white-yazoo-city-high-school-after-my/) [Mike Espy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-espy/) > [I wasn't cocky, just confident; I went to an all black school, a white kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shia-labeouf/i-wasn-t-cocky-just-confident-i-went-to-an-all-black-school-a-white/) [Shia LaBeouf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shia-labeouf/) > [I grew up in a rough area, went to an all-black school, public school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demarcus-cousins/i-grew-up-in-a-rough-area-went-to-an-all-black-school-public-school/) [DeMarcus Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demarcus-cousins/) > [They always try to make it like jocks discriminate against gay people. I've been a big proponent of gay marriage for a long time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/they-always-try-to-make-it-like-jocks-discriminate-against-gay-people/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [From getting good grades when I was growing up to finishing college to respecting my elders to the discipline that I have - everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tecia-torres/from-getting-good-grades-when-i-was-growing-up-to-finishing-college/) [Tecia Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tecia-torres/) > [I think confidence is something you build gradually, with experience. I've always felt that maybe one of the reasons that I did well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denton-cooley/i-think-confidence-is-something-you-build-gradually-with-experience-i/) [Denton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denton-cooley/) > [I was a 36C or D, and at 5' 1'', I knew that being a small person with big boobs standing in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-was-a-36c-or-d-and-at-5-1-i-knew-that-being-a-small-person-with-big/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [Many jobs at Google require math, computing, and coding skills, so if your good grades truly reflect skills in those areas that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/many-jobs-at-google-require-math-computing-and-coding-skills-so-if/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [“life is a gift, death is an obligation, both are equally important to be able to get good grades”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friesda-tobing/life-is-a-gift-death-is-an-obligation-both-are-equally-important-to/) friesda Tobing > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) ## More by Charles Barkley > [What bothers me the most are the Republicans and the Democrats: they act like little kids. They are lying to real people out here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/what-bothers-me-the-most-are-the-republicans-and-the-democrats-they/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [I think people got more common sense than people give 'em credit for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-think-people-got-more-common-sense-than-people-give-em-credit-for/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [I played against him (Wilkins) in college. Getting nominated with him, that's pretty cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-played-against-him-wilkins-in-college-getting-nominated-with-him/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [Everybody in the world has an ego. The only difference between us is we have a reason to have an ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/everybody-in-the-world-has-an-ego-the-only-difference-between-us-is/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [There's no medical term for what I've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/there-s-no-medical-term-for-what-i-ve-got/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [One of the reasons I don't trust the media is you can't have a double standard for guys you like and dislike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/one-of-the-reasons-i-don-t-trust-the-media-is-you-can-t-have-a-double/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [I'm no role model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-m-no-role-model/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [I just wish all these young black kids would realize how significant it is to stop acting a fool out there, killing each other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-just-wish-all-these-young-black-kids-would-realize-how-significant/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [I wish the American public wasn't so stupid if they realized that half the people on television make a living just to insult the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-wish-the-american-public-wasn-t-so-stupid-if-they-realized-that/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [If a guy drew a charge on me, I tried to kick him in the balls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/if-a-guy-drew-a-charge-on-me-i-tried-to-kick-him-in-the-balls/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [Golf is fun - until you hit somebody in the head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/golf-is-fun-until-you-hit-somebody-in-the-head/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [If you get a chance to play with great players, that's half the battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/if-you-get-a-chance-to-play-with-great-players-that-s-half-the-battle/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [Everything gets blamed on the Clintons, every single thing in this world. I think Bill Clinton shot JFK, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/everything-gets-blamed-on-the-clintons-every-single-thing-in-this/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [I'm not a role model... Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-m-not-a-role-model-just-because-i-dunk-a-basketball-doesn-t-mean-i/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [We, as black people, we have a lot of crooks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/we-as-black-people-we-have-a-lot-of-crooks/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) [Explore all 263 Charles Barkley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) ## More Black person quotes > [I don't understand how any black person can tell me that they're not pro-gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/i-don-t-understand-how-any-black-person-can-tell-me-that-they-re-not/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [For me, music doesn't have a color. 'Teen Spirit' is a fire song made by a white guy that me as a black person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldlink/for-me-music-doesn-t-have-a-color-teen-spirit-is-a-fire-song-made-by/) [Goldlink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldlink/) > [I don't think I'm really so unique. If every black person looked at their life they would quickly discover that they have been influenced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/i-don-t-think-i-m-really-so-unique-if-every-black-person-looked-at/) [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) > [No poor, rural, weak, or black person should ever again have to bear the additional burden of being deprived of the opportunity for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/no-poor-rural-weak-or-black-person-should-ever-again-have-to-bear-the/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [I was born in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1969, in a time and place where no one was saying, 'Look how far we've come,' because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-stockett/i-was-born-in-jackson-mississippi-in-1969-in-a-time-and-place-where/) [Kathryn Stockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-stockett/) > [“Athletes, we were supposed to just be there, and in class I made it a point that I was prepared for every exam, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-wilkens/athletes-we-were-supposed-to-just-be-there-and-in-class-i-made-it-a/) [Lenny Wilkens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-wilkens/) > [...people will go for anything they don't understand if it's got enough hype. They want to be hip, want always to be in on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/people-will-go-for-anything-they-don-t-understand-if-it-s-got-enough/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I don't understand most blacks, they think that it's all white peoples fault. All this is just distraction from what's really happening in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-davoti/i-don-t-understand-most-blacks-they-think-that-it-s-all-white-peoples/) Kristen Davoti > [Sometimes, you feel like, 'Am I going to be upset about this as a black person or as a woman first? Or am I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-williams/sometimes-you-feel-like-am-i-going-to-be-upset-about-this-as-a-black/) [Jessica Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-williams/) > [“If you’re telling a non-black person about something racist that happened to you, make sure you are not bitter. Don’t complain. Be forgiving. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/if-you-re-telling-a-non-black-person-about-something-racist-that/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [I'm not an urban black person. I'm a country black person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhiannon-giddens/i-m-not-an-urban-black-person-i-m-a-country-black-person/) [Rhiannon Giddens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhiannon-giddens/) > [“In the weeks leading up to the Detroit rebellion, three incidents exacerbated racial tensions. On June 12, a mob of more than eighty whites…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-bloom/in-the-weeks-leading-up-to-the-detroit-rebellion-three-incidents/) Joshua Bloom > [My dad was very, very invested in image. He felt that as a black person, the thing you could control was how did you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/my-dad-was-very-very-invested-in-image-he-felt-that-as-a-black-person/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [I would like to flood South Africa with black personages of all sorts of persuasions: writers, educators, businessmen, you name it. If you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/i-would-like-to-flood-south-africa-with-black-personages-of-all-sorts/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/i-never-with-my-eyes-saw-the-mistreatment-of-any-black-person/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) Browse all 244 Black person quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For some reason, we're brainwashed to think if you're not a thug or an idiot, you're not black enough. 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