--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I found there's a fairly blatant racism…" description: "\"I found there's a fairly blatant racism in America that's already there, and I don't think I noticed it when I lived here as a kid. But when I went bac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/dave-matthews-2023_america_i-found-there-s-a-fairly-blatant-racism_878288.jpg" --- # I found there's a fairly blatant racism in America that's… ![“I found there's a fairly blatant racism in America that's already there, and I don't think I noticed it when I lived here as a kid. But when I went back to South Africa, and then it's sort of thrust in your face, and then came back here - I just see it everywhere.” quote by Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/dave-matthews-2023_america_i-found-there-s-a-fairly-blatant-racism_878288.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/dave-matthews-2023_america_i-found-there-s-a-fairly-blatant-racism_878288.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09f/dave-matthews-2023_america_i-found-there-s-a-fairly-blatant-racism_878288.jpg) > “I found there's a fairly blatant racism in America that's already there, and I don't think I noticed it when I lived here as a kid. But when I went back to South Africa, and then it's sort of thrust in your face, and then came back here - I just see it everywhere.” [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Racism in America is pervasive yet often unnoticed until contrasted with overt racism elsewhere, revealing blind spots in personal perception. **In simple terms:** Racism is everywhere, but we may miss it until we see it starkly elsewhere. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and confront subtle racism daily. Themes race society self‑awareness Mood concerned motivated Type educational activist When to use this quote - education - community dialogue - media representation - personal reflection Key Concepts implicit bias social conditioning cultural contrast Questions to Reflect On - How can we become more aware of everyday racism? - What steps can we take to address it locally? A Different Perspective Denial and defensiveness can block progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Racism in america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism-in-america/) [South africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-africa/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [There is a bunch of racism in America, and sadly, most of it's on the left side of the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-is-a-bunch-of-racism-in-america-and-sadly-most-of-it-s-on-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Part of our identity is the idea that racism is still there and that we are vulnerable to it. So, the question is, 'How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/part-of-our-identity-is-the-idea-that-racism-is-still-there-and-that/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [Racism in America absolutely exists - it is an issue. We need to fix it. We're a great country - probably the greatest country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/racism-in-america-absolutely-exists-it-is-an-issue-we-need-to-fix-it/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [As a historian of American and African-American religion, I know that the Trayvon Martin moment is just one moment in a history of racism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthea-butler/as-a-historian-of-american-and-african-american-religion-i-know-that/) [Anthea Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthea-butler/) > [For many years, I believed racism in America was dead and that opportunity existed for all. My beliefs were shaken when the Rodney King…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hope-bryant/for-many-years-i-believed-racism-in-america-was-dead-and-that/) [John Hope Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hope-bryant/) > [We need a real, honest, and national conversation about racism in America, because the status quo is a crisis for too many Black and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaal-bowman/we-need-a-real-honest-and-national-conversation-about-racism-in/) [Jamaal Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaal-bowman/) > [By the 1960s, many of us believed that the Civil Rights Movement could eliminate racism in America during our lifetime. But despite significant progress,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/by-the-1960s-many-of-us-believed-that-the-civil-rights-movement-could/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [All of you are aware of the tragic history of racism in America, but for a very long time, African-Americans and their white allies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/all-of-you-are-aware-of-the-tragic-history-of-racism-in-america-but/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Telling me that I’m obsessed with talking about racism in America is like telling me I’m obsessed with swimming when I’m drowning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/telling-me-that-i-m-obsessed-with-talking-about-racism-in-america-is/) [Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/) > [I have nothing to do with racism in America; it was here when I got here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/i-have-nothing-to-do-with-racism-in-america-it-was-here-when-i-got/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [Racism in America is real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-glenn/racism-in-america-is-real/) [Darryl Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-glenn/) > [Is Chris Rock still gonna host the Oscars after this blatant racism?? Is everyone still gonna show up??](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrese-gibson/is-chris-rock-still-gonna-host-the-oscars-after-this-blatant-racism/) [Tyrese Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrese-gibson/) > [My kids speak of both subtle slights and blatant racism. It's a narrative I never imagined for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/my-kids-speak-of-both-subtle-slights-and-blatant-racism-it-s-a/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [I want to be on a show that's not sensitive to racial jokes; I want to be on one where they call me everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wale/i-want-to-be-on-a-show-that-s-not-sensitive-to-racial-jokes-i-want-to/) [Wale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wale/) > [Although much of the media have their antennae out to pick up anything that might be construed as racism against blacks, they resolutely ignore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/although-much-of-the-media-have-their-antennae-out-to-pick-up/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) ## More by Dave Matthews > [Being able to scream at the top of my lungs in front of people is very therapeutic. It is a great gift for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/being-able-to-scream-at-the-top-of-my-lungs-in-front-of-people-is/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [She feels like kicking out all the windows And setting fire to this life She could change everything about her using colors bold and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/she-feels-like-kicking-out-all-the-windows-and-setting-fire-to-this/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [So often we talk about saving the planet, but what we really mean is to save the planet the way it is, so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/so-often-we-talk-about-saving-the-planet-but-what-we-really-mean-is/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [I'm from a very politically and socially conscious family. My mother always made a point of making us look at what was going on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/i-m-from-a-very-politically-and-socially-conscious-family-my-mother/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [She runs up into the light surprised Her arms are opened Her mind's eye is Seeing things from a better side than most can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/she-runs-up-into-the-light-surprised-her-arms-are-opened-her-mind-s/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [I see you young and soft oh little baby Little feet, little hands, little baby One year of crying and the words creep up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/i-see-you-young-and-soft-oh-little-baby-little-feet-little-hands/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [So let us sleep outside tonight, Lay down in our mother's arms, for here we can rest safely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/so-let-us-sleep-outside-tonight-lay-down-in-our-mother-s-arms-for/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [I don't think everything is going to get peachy ever. But I think we have to fight for what we believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/i-don-t-think-everything-is-going-to-get-peachy-ever-but-i-think-we/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [So why would you care To get out of this place? You and me and all our friends, Such a happy human race. Eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/so-why-would-you-care-to-get-out-of-this-place-you-and-me-and-all-our/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [You seek up an emotion and your cup is overflowing, you seek up an emotion sometimes your well is dry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/you-seek-up-an-emotion-and-your-cup-is-overflowing-you-seek-up-an/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [To change the world, Start with one step. However small, the first step is hardest of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/to-change-the-world-start-with-one-step-however-small-the-first-step/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [I'm partly obsessed by aging gracefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/i-m-partly-obsessed-by-aging-gracefully/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [Are you looking for answers, to questions under the stars? If along the way you are growing weary, You can rest with me until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/are-you-looking-for-answers-to-questions-under-the-stars-if-along-the/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [It's funny, I get a little quieter with time. I don't want to chase my tail and one day repeat myself and repeat myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/it-s-funny-i-get-a-little-quieter-with-time-i-don-t-want-to-chase-my/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [I'm only this far, and only tomorrow leads my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/i-m-only-this-far-and-only-tomorrow-leads-my-way/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) [Explore all 191 Dave Matthews quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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