--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many interviewers when they come to talk…" description: "\"Many interviewers when they come to talk to me, think they're being progressive by not mentioning in their stories any longer that I'm black. I tell th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/colin-powell-691_black_many-interviewers-when-they-come-to-talk_1549589.jpg" --- # Many interviewers when they come to talk to me, think… ![“Many interviewers when they come to talk to me, think they're being progressive by not mentioning in their stories any longer that I'm black. I tell them, 'Don't stop now. If I shot somebody you'd mention it.'” quote by Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/colin-powell-691_black_many-interviewers-when-they-come-to-talk_1549589.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/colin-powell-691_black_many-interviewers-when-they-come-to-talk_1549589.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dd/colin-powell-691_black_many-interviewers-when-they-come-to-talk_1549589.jpg) > “Many interviewers when they come to talk to me, think they're being progressive by not mentioning in their stories any longer that I'm black. I tell them, 'Don't stop now. If I shot somebody you'd mention it.'” [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## 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 challenges tokenistic diversity efforts, demanding genuine acknowledgment of identity. **In simple terms:** Diversity should be real, not just symbolic. Key Takeaway Demand authentic inclusion. Themes diversity authenticity identity politics Mood thoughtful assertive Type political social When to use this quote - job interviews - public speaking - media interviews - corporate training Key Concepts tokenism racial awareness media representation Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure true representation? - What risks come from performative allyship? A Different Perspective May ignore systemic bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Interviewers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interviewers/) [Interviewers Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interviewers-come-5788861/) [Mentioning Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentioning-stories-5788863/) [Progressive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progressive/) [Progressive Mentioning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progressive-mentioning-5788862/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Think Progressive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-progressive-814120/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think it was progressive to vote to give gun makers and sellers immunity. I don't think it was progressive to vote against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-don-t-think-it-was-progressive-to-vote-to-give-gun-makers-and/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I think 'progressive' is different than 'liberal' - I know a lot of people use them interchangeably - but I think I'm far more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/i-think-progressive-is-different-than-liberal-i-know-a-lot-of-people/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [It's just making sure that everyone is treated equally. Is that so progressive? I don't think it's progressive, I think it's human. And not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristian-nairn/it-s-just-making-sure-that-everyone-is-treated-equally-is-that-so/) [Kristian Nairn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristian-nairn/) > [“We have the power to shape our lives, by the way we think. Only that to have a progressive life, we must train ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ndiritu-wahome/we-have-the-power-to-shape-our-lives-by-the-way-we-think-only-that-to/) [Ndiritu Wahome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ndiritu-wahome/) > [I think there's always been progressive R&B music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel/i-think-there-s-always-been-progressive-r-b-music/) [Miguel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel/) > [I think a progressive is someone who cares to expand freedom for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/i-think-a-progressive-is-someone-who-cares-to-expand-freedom-for/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [Steve Coogan picks up enough to lecture an interviewer: This is a postmodern novel before there was any modernism to be post about. Later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/steve-coogan-picks-up-enough-to-lecture-an-interviewer-this-is-a/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Don't like when sports interviewers force answers: Are you dedicating this game to your sick grandmother? What's the guy supposed to say?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/don-t-like-when-sports-interviewers-force-answers-are-you-dedicating/) [Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/) > [The interviewer should just tell me the words he wants me to say and I’ll repeat them after him. I think that would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/the-interviewer-should-just-tell-me-the-words-he-wants-me-to-say-and/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [The psychiatric interviewer is supposed to be doing three things: considering what the patient could mean by what he says; considering how he himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-stack-sullivan/the-psychiatric-interviewer-is-supposed-to-be-doing-three-things/) [Harry Stack Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-stack-sullivan/) > [In later years, holding forth to an interviewer or to an audience of aging fans at a comic book convention, Sam Clay liked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/in-later-years-holding-forth-to-an-interviewer-or-to-an-audience-of/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [When 'Tree of Life' went to Cannes, all the interviewers were asking me about my favorite actors and actresses because I was new to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/when-tree-of-life-went-to-cannes-all-the-interviewers-were-asking-me/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) > [Interviewers, even the ones that support the person they're interviewing, have an obligation to probe further and push back when a candidate says something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/interviewers-even-the-ones-that-support-the-person-they-re/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [ \[Demystifying lesbian sex for an interviewer\] In a way, the sex isn't really that different... From what I can tell, no, not really. All… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-beals/demystifying-lesbian-sex-for-an-interviewer-in-a-way-the-sex-isn-t/) [Jennifer Beals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-beals/) > [As a kid, in the Runaways, I would see the interviewers start to ask about our personal lives and what we did — and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-jett/as-a-kid-in-the-runaways-i-would-see-the-interviewers-start-to-ask/) [Joan Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-jett/) ## More by Colin Powell > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/effective-leaders-are-made-not-born-they-learn-from-trial-and-error/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Decision-making is lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/decision-making-is-lonely/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The purposes of the United States should not be doubted. The Security Council resolutions will be enforced - the just demands of peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-purposes-of-the-united-states-should-not-be-doubted-the-security/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I always like to take my time and examine the two candidates, see not only the two candidates but the policies they will bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-always-like-to-take-my-time-and-examine-the-two-candidates-see-not/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We can seldom get our children to do what we tell them, but they almost never fail to imitate us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-can-seldom-get-our-children-to-do-what-we-tell-them-but-they/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [With respect to where we are now, we have a voluntary army. And if we ever go back to conscription I hope that at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/with-respect-to-where-we-are-now-we-have-a-voluntary-army-and-if-we/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Politics is not bean bags. It's serious, tough stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/politics-is-not-bean-bags-it-s-serious-tough-stuff/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [There are no secrets to success: don't waste time looking for them, success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/there-are-no-secrets-to-success-don-t-waste-time-looking-for-them/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [So like any football or basketball coach, you always always believe you're going to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/so-like-any-football-or-basketball-coach-you-always-always-believe/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We hope that more assistance will be available to the nations of the region, to include Egypt, on the three pillars that I discussed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-hope-that-more-assistance-will-be-available-to-the-nations-of-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [One of the most worrisome things that emerges from the thick intelligence file we have on Iraq's biological weapons is the existence of mobile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/one-of-the-most-worrisome-things-that-emerges-from-the-thick/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Pissing people off doesn't mean you're doing the right things, but doing the right things will almost inevitably piss people off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/pissing-people-off-doesn-t-mean-you-re-doing-the-right-things-but/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-less-you-associate-with-some-people-the-more-your-life-will/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Be careful what you choose: You may get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/be-careful-what-you-choose-you-may-get-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) [Explore all 408 Colin Powell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## More Black quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) [Frank B. Wilderson III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-b-wilderson-iii/) > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) [Browse all 11,655 Black quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many interviewers when they come to talk to me, think they're being progressive by not mentioning in their stories any longer that I'm black. I tell them, 'Don't stop now. 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