--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know what it's like to be in…" description: "\"I know what it's like to be in predominantly white situations in the educational system. My parents are educators, and I went to performing arts school..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/da-vine-joy-randolph-4712_art_i-know-what-it-s-like-to-be-in-predomina_641091.jpg" --- # I know what it's like to be in predominantly white… ![“I know what it's like to be in predominantly white situations in the educational system. My parents are educators, and I went to performing arts schools, but in particular prep schools and the Ivy League. Going there as a person of color is a very unique experience, and it can sometimes be a…” quote by Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/da-vine-joy-randolph-4712_art_i-know-what-it-s-like-to-be-in-predomina_641091.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/da-vine-joy-randolph-4712_art_i-know-what-it-s-like-to-be-in-predomina_641091.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb0/da-vine-joy-randolph-4712_art_i-know-what-it-s-like-to-be-in-predomina_641091.jpg) > “I know what it's like to be in predominantly white situations in the educational system. My parents are educators, and I went to performing arts schools, but in particular prep schools and the Ivy League. Going there as a person of color is a very unique experience, and it can sometimes be a lonely one.” [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being a person of color in predominantly white academic settings can feel isolating, highlighting systemic underrepresentation and cultural dissonance. **In simple terms:** Feeling alone in white-dominated schools. Key Takeaway Seek community and mentorship. Themes identity race education loneliness diversity Mood reflective determined Type personal narrative social commentary When to use this quote - college freshman - first‑generation student - career networking - mental‑health support Key Concepts systemic bias cultural isolation resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions foster genuine inclusion? - What personal strategies help combat isolation? A Different Perspective Support networks may be limited and tokenism can persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Ivy league](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ivy-league/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Performing arts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performing-arts/) ## Related quotes > [It's very hard to be a kid, especially in a predominantly white school or white town where other people want to police your body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lelia-bundles/it-s-very-hard-to-be-a-kid-especially-in-a-predominantly-white-school/) [A'Lelia Bundles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lelia-bundles/) > [In my own life I'm frequently in predominantly white atmospheres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/in-my-own-life-i-m-frequently-in-predominantly-white-atmospheres/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [I lived in Brooklyn from 2007 to 2012 but for the last few years have resided in Austin, Texas, where my world - especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karan-mahajan/i-lived-in-brooklyn-from-2007-to-2012-but-for-the-last-few-years-have/) [Karan Mahajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karan-mahajan/) > [My sense is that file sharing started in predominantly white, middle- and upper-middle-cl ass young people who were native-born, who felt they were entitled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/my-sense-is-that-file-sharing-started-in-predominantly-white-middle/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [A film centered around the Second World War with a predominantly white cast would not have the pressure on it that 'Red Tails' has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/a-film-centered-around-the-second-world-war-with-a-predominantly/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [I grew up in Boston, and in my adolescence your parents are trying to send you to like 'better' schools and a few of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-grew-up-in-boston-and-in-my-adolescence-your-parents-are-trying-to/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I went to a school that was predominantly white, and I was one of the first wave of black kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/i-went-to-a-school-that-was-predominantly-white-and-i-was-one-of-the/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) > [I've been on predominantly 'white' shows before, and I had also been on predominantly 'black' shows. I would complain that when I was on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenya-barris/i-ve-been-on-predominantly-white-shows-before-and-i-had-also-been-on/) [Kenya Barris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenya-barris/) > [I am black in a predominantly white industry, and I have been luckier than most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-enninful/i-am-black-in-a-predominantly-white-industry-and-i-have-been-luckier/) [Edward Enninful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-enninful/) > [Growing up in a predominantly white area of the predominantly white state of Wisconsin, it was, I'm sad to say, relatively easy for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-thomas/growing-up-in-a-predominantly-white-area-of-the-predominantly-white/) [Joe Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-thomas/) > [I have a lot in common with most Trump supporters. I'm white, I live in a rural area that is predominantly white where many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-have-a-lot-in-common-with-most-trump-supporters-i-m-white-i-live-in/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [When well-qualified, upper middle-class blacks or Latinos or Asians move to predominantly white neighborhoods, there's what's called the tipping point. That tipping point is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-benjamin/when-well-qualified-upper-middle-class-blacks-or-latinos-or-asians/) [Richard Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-benjamin/) > [I went to a predominantly white secondary school and experienced a lot of hate and racism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/i-went-to-a-predominantly-white-secondary-school-and-experienced-a/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) > [I went to a predominantly white school, and I was the only black girl. I can remember thinking, 'I don't want to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-rowland/i-went-to-a-predominantly-white-school-and-i-was-the-only-black-girl/) [Kelly Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-rowland/) > [My clothes are predominately black and my home is predominantly white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-drescher/my-clothes-are-predominately-black-and-my-home-is-predominantly-white/) [Fran Drescher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-drescher/) ## More by Da'Vine Joy Randolph > [For my personal boundaries, I don't look at critiques.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/for-my-personal-boundaries-i-don-t-look-at-critiques/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [Laughter, to me, was the currency. It gave me agency within my home, as well as out in the world at a young age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/laughter-to-me-was-the-currency-it-gave-me-agency-within-my-home-as/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [Love makes people do crazy stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/love-makes-people-do-crazy-stuff/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [As a woman of color, I always pay homage to my ancestors and elders - in the industry in particular - who have paved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/as-a-woman-of-color-i-always-pay-homage-to-my-ancestors-and-elders-in/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [As a supporting actress, my job is almost like a boxer in the ring, to observe what my opponent is doing and learn how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/as-a-supporting-actress-my-job-is-almost-like-a-boxer-in-the-ring-to/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [I never aim to be funny. I'm always just focused on telling the story authentically, and if that affects people sometimes through laughter, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/i-never-aim-to-be-funny-i-m-always-just-focused-on-telling-the-story/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [Every two weeks, every Friday on the dot, I would go into my dean's office and be like, 'listen, this is the standard that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/every-two-weeks-every-friday-on-the-dot-i-would-go-into-my-dean-s/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [What gives me the most joy is cooking for other people. I look up five different recipes from five different sources to compare. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/what-gives-me-the-most-joy-is-cooking-for-other-people-i-look-up-five/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [I'm just attracted to human behavior and how people sometimes never would interact with one another or be in each other's sphere of awareness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/i-m-just-attracted-to-human-behavior-and-how-people-sometimes-never/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [I will always pay tribute to, honor, uplift and be a part of Black storytelling, but I need to infiltrate and get in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/i-will-always-pay-tribute-to-honor-uplift-and-be-a-part-of-black/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [I'm a woman of color. And then on top of that, a woman of color who is curvy. Those stories don't get told often.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/i-m-a-woman-of-color-and-then-on-top-of-that-a-woman-of-color-who-is/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [Usually, when I get hit with inspiration hard - I don't know, maybe it's impulsive - but I'm the type of person where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/usually-when-i-get-hit-with-inspiration-hard-i-don-t-know-maybe-it-s/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [I think creating a recipe that tastes good is art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/i-think-creating-a-recipe-that-tastes-good-is-art/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [No one in my family acts or sings - nothing. There's no sense of entertainment in my family. Sometimes I feel like an oddball,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/no-one-in-my-family-acts-or-sings-nothing-there-s-no-sense-of/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) > [Every time I think I'm in control and trying to do something, it doesn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-vine-joy-randolph/every-time-i-think-i-m-in-control-and-trying-to-do-something-it-doesn/) [Da'Vine Joy Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) [Explore all 107 Da'Vine Joy Randolph quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-vine-joy-randolph/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. 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