---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It would seem that some black people want…"
description: "\"It would seem that some black people want to say that when you, as a black, become successful, you cease to be black. That's ridiculous.\" — Clarence Th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/clarence-thomas-7661_become_it-would-seem-that-some-black-people-wan_2924614.jpg"
---

#  It would seem that some black people want to say that when…

![“It would seem that some black people want to say that when you, as a black, become successful, you cease to be black. That's ridiculous.” quote by Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/clarence-thomas-7661_become_it-would-seem-that-some-black-people-wan_2924614.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/clarence-thomas-7661_become_it-would-seem-that-some-black-people-wan_2924614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/clarence-thomas-7661_become_it-would-seem-that-some-black-people-wan_2924614.jpg)

> “It would seem that some black people want to say that when you, as a black, become successful, you cease to be black. That's ridiculous.”

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Success does not erase identity; one can be both successful and Black.

**In simple terms:** Being successful doesn’t mean losing your heritage.

Key Takeaway

Embrace success while honoring your roots.

Themes

identity success race

Mood

thoughtful assertive

Type

political inspirational

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- community leadership
- personal branding

Key Concepts

intersectionality self‑definition

Questions to Reflect On

- What does success mean to you personally?
- How can you model identity pride?

A Different Perspective

Societal pressures may force identity compromise.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Become](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-people/) [Black Ridiculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-ridiculous-4279428/) [Black Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-successful-3310088/) [Cease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cease/) [Cease Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cease-black-4279429/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Ridiculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridiculous/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Say Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-black-548746/) [Seem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seem/) [Some](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/some/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/)

## Related quotes

> [I think that everybody has their own interpretations of what it means to be American. But from my vantage point, being black and successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-mensa/i-think-that-everybody-has-their-own-interpretations-of-what-it-means/)

[Vic Mensa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vic-mensa/)

> [When you say 'Black is beautiful' you are saying, 'Man you are okay as you are, begin to look upon yourself as a human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/when-you-say-black-is-beautiful-you-are-saying-man-you-are-okay-as/)

[Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/)

> [“Many say black is not a color, just the absence. I say it is every color.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-t-p-johnson/many-say-black-is-not-a-color-just-the-absence-i-say-it-is-every-color/)

[Zachary T. P. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-t-p-johnson/)

> [When you say black lives matter, that's inherently racist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/when-you-say-black-lives-matter-that-s-inherently-racist/)

[Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/)

> [I don't claim to say, "All black women are like me," because they're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/i-don-t-claim-to-say-all-black-women-are-like-me-because-they-re-not/)

[Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/)

> [Black is confusing. Where does the line start and stop with what is black and what isn't black? People that are mixed-race, or, imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santan-dave/black-is-confusing-where-does-the-line-start-and-stop-with-what-is/)

[Santan Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santan-dave/)

> [People say I'm into black women. Robert De Niro is into black women. I'm just into women who are real, and they happen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/people-say-i-m-into-black-women-robert-de-niro-is-into-black-women-i/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

> [Whether you say I'm too black, I'm not black enough, this is me. I hope people realize that my journey to love doesn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-lindsay/whether-you-say-i-m-too-black-i-m-not-black-enough-this-is-me-i-hope/)

[Rachel Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-lindsay/)

> [What I say about myself, black footballers or black pop stars is that we have been 'elevated out of blackness.' Because when people see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/what-i-say-about-myself-black-footballers-or-black-pop-stars-is-that/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [People only look at you and say, 'You are black and you are from the banlieue,' and all the doors are closed. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-sy/people-only-look-at-you-and-say-you-are-black-and-you-are-from-the/)

[Omar Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-sy/)

> [A black man - I say a black man, we got no corner on the market, but every day in some form or fashion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-greene/a-black-man-i-say-a-black-man-we-got-no-corner-on-the-market-but/)

[Joe Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-greene/)

> [“a loyal willingness to say that black is white when Party discipline demands this. But it means also the ability to believe that black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/a-loyal-willingness-to-say-that-black-is-white-when-party-discipline/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [I'm hoping that somehow with songs like 'American Gold' there will be some kind of justice, and people just stop being so close-minded to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tionne-watkins/i-m-hoping-that-somehow-with-songs-like-american-gold-there-will-be/)

[Tionne Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tionne-watkins/)

> [JENA SIX What a disgrase, when a black man can pay and play and get away with rape. What does it say when a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-hazzard/jena-six-what-a-disgrase-when-a-black-man-can-pay-and-play-and-get/)

[Bobby Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-hazzard/)

> [If you asked me why I went to jail, the easiest explanation would be to say, 'Because I'm black.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-idk/if-you-asked-me-why-i-went-to-jail-the-easiest-explanation-would-be/)

[Jay IDK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-idk/)

## More by Clarence Thomas

> [You have a number of choices. You could continue to always fight against people who are really distractions. They're people in the cheap seats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/you-have-a-number-of-choices-you-could-continue-to-always-fight/)

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

> [I disagree with the prevailing point of view of some black leaders that special treatment for blacks is acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-disagree-with-the-prevailing-point-of-view-of-some-black-leaders/)

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

> [My grandfather was a man, when he talked about freedom, his attitude was really interesting. His view was that you had obligations or you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/my-grandfather-was-a-man-when-he-talked-about-freedom-his-attitude/)

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

> [Perhaps some are confused because they have stereotypes of how blacks should be and I respectfully decline, as I did in my youth, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/perhaps-some-are-confused-because-they-have-stereotypes-of-how-blacks/)

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

> [ The Constitution does not vest in Congress the authority to protect society from every bad act that might befall it…\[I\]f followed to its logical… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/the-constitution-does-not-vest-in-congress-the-authority-to-protect/)

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

> [The job of a judge is to figure out what the law says, not what he wants it to say. There is a difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/the-job-of-a-judge-is-to-figure-out-what-the-law-says-not-what-he/)

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

> [Differences in race, differences in sex, somebody doesn’t look at you right, somebody says something. Everybody is sensitive. If I had been as sensitive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/differences-in-race-differences-in-sex-somebody-doesn-t-look-at-you/)

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

> [ A theory deeply etched in our law \[is that\] a free society prefers to punish the few who abuse the rights of free speech… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/a-theory-deeply-etched-in-our-law-is-that-a-free-society-prefers-to/)

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

> [I don't know one of my friends who is considered a conservative who has not had to go back and thoroughly think through everything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-don-t-know-one-of-my-friends-who-is-considered-a-conservative-who/)

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

> [I' been very partial to Malcolm X, particularly his self-help teachings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-been-very-partial-to-malcolm-x-particularly-his-self-help-teachings/)

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

> [When you look at where the real problems are among minorities in our society, particularly blacks, it's at the bottom. It's the people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/when-you-look-at-where-the-real-problems-are-among-minorities-in-our/)

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

> [The only people who have quick answers don't have the responsibility of making the decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/the-only-people-who-have-quick-answers-don-t-have-the-responsibility/)

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

> [Today, now, it is time to move forward, a time to look for what is good in others, what is good in our country.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/today-now-it-is-time-to-move-forward-a-time-to-look-for-what-is-good/)

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

> [The Constitution contains no 'dignity' Clause, and even if it did, the government would be incapable of bestowing dignity. ... Slaves did not lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/the-constitution-contains-no-dignity-clause-and-even-if-it-did-the/)

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

> [There's a difference between someone who's 'harsh' and someone who is 'hard.' Life was hard. You lived in the South, as my grandparents did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/there-s-a-difference-between-someone-who-s-harsh-and-someone-who-is/)

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

[Explore all 89 Clarence Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

## More Become quotes

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/)

[Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/)

> [A strong, responsible Israel can become a stabilizer in such a turbulent region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/a-strong-responsible-israel-can-become-a-stabilizer-in-such-a/)

[Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/)

> [If someone has the opportunity to become a model, I would say, 'Do it.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-russell/if-someone-has-the-opportunity-to-become-a-model-i-would-say-do-it/)

[Cameron Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-russell/)

> [I had a talent for copying the signatures of dignitaries like Indira Gandhi, Amitabh Bachchan and so on. So, I wanted to become someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-mishra/i-had-a-talent-for-copying-the-signatures-of-dignitaries-like-indira/)

[Sanjay Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-mishra/)

> [In the Tea Party era, it is the restless conservative Republican who has become passion's plaything, the toy of impetuous romance, an erotomania only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/in-the-tea-party-era-it-is-the-restless-conservative-republican-who/)

[James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/)

> [You can never tell when a commercial space venture will suddenly become viable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/you-can-never-tell-when-a-commercial-space-venture-will-suddenly/)

[Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/)

> [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/)

[Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/)

> ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/)

[Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/)

> [My first bill to become law repeals regulations to make everyday life easier and more affordable for Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/my-first-bill-to-become-law-repeals-regulations-to-make-everyday-life/)

[Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/)

> [At one point when I was very young, when I was first starting out, I thought, 'Well, one day I'll be able to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/at-one-point-when-i-was-very-young-when-i-was-first-starting-out-i/)

[Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/)

> [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/)

[Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/)

> [With every interview you feel like you lose a piece of yourself, and with every bad review you become just that little bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-march/with-every-interview-you-feel-like-you-lose-a-piece-of-yourself-and/)

[Jane March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-march/)

> [Canada has become such a staging area for Chinese money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/canada-has-become-such-a-staging-area-for-chinese-money/)

[Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/)

> [Sometimes when you're in different countries, everything has become so homogenised and there's a Starbucks and McDonald's everywhere, and you could feel like you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-yun-lee/sometimes-when-you-re-in-different-countries-everything-has-become-so/)

[Will Yun Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-yun-lee/)

[Browse all 4,184 Become quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It would seem that some black people want to say that when you, as a black, become successful, you cease to be black. That's ridiculous.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Clarence Thomas"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/it-would-seem-that-some-black-people-want-to-say-that-when-you-as-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Become"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/it-would-seem-that-some-black-people-want-to-say-that-when-you-as-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/clarence-thomas-7661_become_it-would-seem-that-some-black-people-wan_2924614.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/clarence-thomas-7661_become_it-would-seem-that-some-black-people-wan_2924614.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/clarence-thomas-7661_become_it-would-seem-that-some-black-people-wan_2924614.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It would seem that some black people want to say that when you, as a black, become successful, you cease to…” — Clarence Thomas",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Clarence Thomas",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It would seem that some black...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/it-would-seem-that-some-black-people-want-to-say-that-when-you-as-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/it-would-seem-that-some-black-people-want-to-say-that-when-you-as-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
