--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was raised to believe that you had to…" description: "\"I was raised to believe that you had to do things better than white people in order to succeed. The old black shows were better than the white shows. \"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/chris-rock-767_air_i-was-raised-to-believe-that-you-had-to_117306.jpg" --- # I was raised to believe that you had to do things better… ![“I was raised to believe that you had to do things better than white people in order to succeed. The old black shows were better than the white shows. "The Jeffersons" (1975) was a lot better. "Good Times" (1974) was way funnier. "Sanford and Son" (1972). Now, though, everyone thinks we're equal…” quote by Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/chris-rock-767_air_i-was-raised-to-believe-that-you-had-to_117306.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/chris-rock-767_air_i-was-raised-to-believe-that-you-had-to_117306.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/081/chris-rock-767_air_i-was-raised-to-believe-that-you-had-to_117306.jpg) > “I was raised to believe that you had to do things better than white people in order to succeed. The old black shows were better than the white shows. "The Jeffersons" (1975) was a lot better. "Good Times" (1974) was way funnier. "Sanford and Son" (1972). Now, though, everyone thinks we're equal, so we submit the same shit that everyone else submits. And then we get mad when they won't air it. You got to go back to the old attitude of it has to be twice as good.” [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques the pressure on marginalized creators to outperform the majority, highlighting systemic bias and the exhausting need to prove worth. **In simple terms:** Minorities feel forced to be twice as good to be seen as equal. Key Takeaway Unequal standards burden underrepresented groups. Themes race media inequality performance pressure Mood frustrated defiant Type social commentary humorous critique When to use this quote - career advancement for minorities - media representation debates - workplace evaluations Key Concepts systemic bias psychological toll Practical Applications - advocating for equitable standards - supporting diverse voices Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions reduce the 'twice as good' expectation? - What are the personal costs of this pressure? A Different Perspective The claim may overlook instances where talent alone succeeded without extra pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Good times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-times/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Order to succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order-to-succeed/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sanford And Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanford-and-son/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [White people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-people/) ## Related quotes > [You'd think they could spit out shows better than 'Champs' and 'High Incident' with the pool of talent involved, unless they're just throwing money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-pasdar/you-d-think-they-could-spit-out-shows-better-than-champs-and-high/) [Adrian Pasdar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-pasdar/) > [We don't even realize something is broken until someone else shows us a better way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/we-don-t-even-realize-something-is-broken-until-someone-else-shows-us/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [There should be more on television that uplifts people and shows them how to better prepare themselves for earning a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/there-should-be-more-on-television-that-uplifts-people-and-shows-them/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [More and more, you're seeing television shows that are better than 99% of the movies out there. I mean, you watch something like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-scott/more-and-more-you-re-seeing-television-shows-that-are-better-than-99/) [Adam Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-scott/) > [Whatever you do in life, yoga shows you how to do it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-miller/whatever-you-do-in-life-yoga-shows-you-how-to-do-it-better/) [Chuck Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-miller/) > [I think the shows are better when I feel like myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-sorbara/i-think-the-shows-are-better-when-i-feel-like-myself/) [Martina Sorbara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-sorbara/) > [I don't want to sound bitter about 'Sanford and Son.' I'm not. It threw me into stardom. It made me wealthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demond-wilson/i-don-t-want-to-sound-bitter-about-sanford-and-son-i-m-not-it-threw/) [Demond Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demond-wilson/) > [Sanford and Son' transcended politics and race. It was a show about a son and a father who have a love-hate relationship but yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demond-wilson/sanford-and-son-transcended-politics-and-race-it-was-a-show-about-a/) [Demond Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demond-wilson/) > [Sanford and Son is more than just a name. It's a condition, a dynasty, an empire. 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