--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was growing up, there was no one…" description: "\"When I was growing up, there was no one. There were very few black women in tech; there were very few black women in the fashion game. We didn't have o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/dawn-richard-7962_black-women_when-i-was-growing-up-there-was-no-one-t_430118.jpg" --- # When I was growing up, there was no one. There were very… ![“When I was growing up, there was no one. There were very few black women in tech; there were very few black women in the fashion game. We didn't have our Grace Jones - Grace Jones was before my time. We didn't really have a lot of black women in electronic and punk who were celebrated in the same…” quote by Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/dawn-richard-7962_black-women_when-i-was-growing-up-there-was-no-one-t_430118.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/dawn-richard-7962_black-women_when-i-was-growing-up-there-was-no-one-t_430118.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/437/dawn-richard-7962_black-women_when-i-was-growing-up-there-was-no-one-t_430118.jpg) > “When I was growing up, there was no one. There were very few black women in tech; there were very few black women in the fashion game. We didn't have our Grace Jones - Grace Jones was before my time. We didn't really have a lot of black women in electronic and punk who were celebrated in the same levels as, say, your big mega-superstars.” [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) ## 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 highlights a lack of representation for Black women in tech and fashion, noting few role models and cultural icons during her youth. **In simple terms:** Black women were under‑represented in tech and fashion when she grew up. Key Takeaway Seek out and create representation for marginalized groups. Themes representation diversity technology fashion culture Mood reflective determined hopeful Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - STEM education - fashion design - media production - community mentorship Key Concepts intersectionality role models media visibility Questions to Reflect On - How can industries proactively amplify under‑represented voices? - What steps can individuals take to become role models? A Different Perspective Progress may be slow and systemic barriers persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-women/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punk/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [It's important to be an ally. You don't have to be a black woman to think we should have more black women in tech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/it-s-important-to-be-an-ally-you-don-t-have-to-be-a-black-woman-to/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) > [The best thing women in tech can do is to invest in other women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-tsai/the-best-thing-women-in-tech-can-do-is-to-invest-in-other-women/) [Christine Tsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-tsai/) > [Sometimes I speak out on women in tech issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-wu/sometimes-i-speak-out-on-women-in-tech-issues/) [Brianna Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-wu/) > [There is a misperception among job seekers that opportunities for women in tech exist only for those with coding or engineering experience. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-tans/there-is-a-misperception-among-job-seekers-that-opportunities-for/) [Gillian Tans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-tans/) > [My daughter was 10 years old when she told me she hated computers. As someone who has spent her career helping build one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wojcicki/my-daughter-was-10-years-old-when-she-told-me-she-hated-computers-as/) [Susan Wojcicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wojcicki/) > [A lot of people believe women can't do tech-y stuff. Becoming nerdy doesn't have to mean the short-haired guy, but can be the woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weili-dai/a-lot-of-people-believe-women-can-t-do-tech-y-stuff-becoming-nerdy/) [Weili Dai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weili-dai/) > [I think it's an uphill battle in every field. You hear late-night comedy is hard on women. And then you hear investment banking is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nell-scovell/i-think-it-s-an-uphill-battle-in-every-field-you-hear-late-night/) [Nell Scovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nell-scovell/) > [Padmasree Warrior has been on all the lists. The most powerful women in tech. The most powerful women in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-chang/padmasree-warrior-has-been-on-all-the-lists-the-most-powerful-women/) [Emily Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-chang/) > [It's important to talk about how we catch women up in tech and how we get funding, but let's not miss the new boats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randi-zuckerberg/it-s-important-to-talk-about-how-we-catch-women-up-in-tech-and-how-we/) [Randi Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randi-zuckerberg/) > [Right now is a great time to be a woman in tech, but there's not enough women in tech,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-mayer/right-now-is-a-great-time-to-be-a-woman-in-tech-but-there-s-not/) [Marissa Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-mayer/) > [Fashion is very quick. It's very disposable. It's immediately - it tells you exactly where we are in our culture, especially women's fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-ford/fashion-is-very-quick-it-s-very-disposable-it-s-immediately-it-tells/) [Tom Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-ford/) > [Women's fashion is more interesting than men's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-rhodes/women-s-fashion-is-more-interesting-than-men-s/) [Nick Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-rhodes/) > [I love women's fashion, but women don't need me as much as men do. It's the men who have nothing to wear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-cavalli/i-love-women-s-fashion-but-women-don-t-need-me-as-much-as-men-do-it-s/) [Roberto Cavalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-cavalli/) > [“An audible gasp went up from a nearby clutch of women whose fashion sense bound their thinking tighter than a whalebone corset.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-larranaga/an-audible-gasp-went-up-from-a-nearby-clutch-of-women-whose-fashion/) Bob Larranaga > [There are certainly numberless women of fashion who consider it perfectly natural to go miles down Fifth Avenue, or Madison Avenue, yet for whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-romains/there-are-certainly-numberless-women-of-fashion-who-consider-it/) [Jules Romains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-romains/) ## More by Dawn Richard > [The problem with Danity Kane is everybody wanted to play everybody's role, and when you're in a group like that, that can't survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-richard/the-problem-with-danity-kane-is-everybody-wanted-to-play-everybody-s/) [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) > [I couldn't do a record without knowing I'll translate it into something visual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-richard/i-couldn-t-do-a-record-without-knowing-i-ll-translate-it-into/) [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) > [I've had two platinum albums. I have worked with thousands of people. But the most rewarding feeling is to see people on Twitter say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-richard/i-ve-had-two-platinum-albums-i-have-worked-with-thousands-of-people/) [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) > [How many people can say they had Anna Wintour on a record? Not even an album, just a mixtape? It's audacious, disrespectful, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-richard/how-many-people-can-say-they-had-anna-wintour-on-a-record-not-even-an/) [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) > [I'd only do a deal with a label if it allowed me to still be indie and have that indie mentality. I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-richard/i-d-only-do-a-deal-with-a-label-if-it-allowed-me-to-still-be-indie/) [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) > [My grandmother had a Ph.D in library science, so I grew up in a library, and I would appreciate those books and the smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-richard/my-grandmother-had-a-ph-d-in-library-science-so-i-grew-up-in-a/) [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) > ['Redemption' is about understanding myself and not worrying about my relationship with the industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-richard/redemption-is-about-understanding-myself-and-not-worrying-about-my/) [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) > [People want to peg you as alternative R&B when they hear soul or see the color of your skin. It's comfortable when people see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-richard/people-want-to-peg-you-as-alternative-r-b-when-they-hear-soul-or-see/) [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) > [Just as much as you need the people who love you, you need the people who doubt you - to prove them wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-richard/just-as-much-as-you-need-the-people-who-love-you-you-need-the-people/) [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) > [I'm not mainstream. You gotta find me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-richard/i-m-not-mainstream-you-gotta-find-me/) [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) > [I did write more mainstream stuff with DK. But you could always tell the records that I wrote in contrast with everybody else's because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-richard/i-did-write-more-mainstream-stuff-with-dk-but-you-could-always-tell/) [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) > [I watched my parents lose everything, from a house to birth certificates. We were homeless for about six months, then we stayed in Baltimore,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-richard/i-watched-my-parents-lose-everything-from-a-house-to-birth/) [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) > [I had no idea that what I thought was my low wasn't really my low. That's what a lot of people think - then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-richard/i-had-no-idea-that-what-i-thought-was-my-low-wasn-t-really-my-low/) [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) > [My uncle is in the hall of fame for creating by hand some of the most intricate Indian Mardi Gras garb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-richard/my-uncle-is-in-the-hall-of-fame-for-creating-by-hand-some-of-the-most/) [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) > [I started to write my own stories, like small novels, and those novels became poems, and after poems, they became lyrics, and song came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-richard/i-started-to-write-my-own-stories-like-small-novels-and-those-novels/) [Dawn Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) [Explore all 85 Dawn Richard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-richard/) ## More Black women quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [Black women's intersectional experiences of racism and sexism have been a central but forgotten dynamic in the unfolding of feminist and antiracist agendas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/black-women-s-intersectional-experiences-of-racism-and-sexism-have/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [“As a Black Woman, I define self-care as the ability to safely and comfortably exhale.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethanee-epifani-j-bryant/as-a-black-woman-i-define-self-care-as-the-ability-to-safely-and/) [Bethanee Epifani J. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethanee-epifani-j-bryant/) > [When black women are down with you and in your corner, you have an ally that will move Heaven and Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/when-black-women-are-down-with-you-and-in-your-corner-you-have-an/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [ It wasn't \[Barack\] Obama per se; it was the feeling on the ground; it was seeing an old black woman in a wheelchair being… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the-feeling-on-the-ground-it-was/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [I talk about a lot is how black women are so often referred to as feisty or sassy or aggressive or difficult just for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vick-hope/i-talk-about-a-lot-is-how-black-women-are-so-often-referred-to-as/) [Vick Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vick-hope/) > [“I feel enormously blessed to be a successful black woman writer in this culture, but I have found my small fame, such as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-feel-enormously-blessed-to-be-a-successful-black-woman-writer-in/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It's always hard for me to find a therapist who is a black woman or even a woman of color. It's something that we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/it-s-always-hard-for-me-to-find-a-therapist-who-is-a-black-woman-or/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [“She’s an original! She doesn’t need to compete, copy, or envy other women. The confidence that’s within her won’t allow her to stoop that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lahart/she-s-an-original-she-doesn-t-need-to-compete-copy-or-envy-other/) [Stephanie Lahart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lahart/) > [It is a dangerous time to be a black woman in America. It’s a time when we are not safe in the streets or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-cleage/it-is-a-dangerous-time-to-be-a-black-woman-in-america-it-s-a-time/) [Pearl Cleage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-cleage/) > [Black women don't have the same body image problems as white women. They are proud of their bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/black-women-don-t-have-the-same-body-image-problems-as-white-women/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [As long as black women yell about being independent, they will never get married. Marriage and independent is like oil and water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-long-as-black-women-yell-about-being-independent-they-will-never/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are enough negative images of Black women out there and I did not want to portray Dorothy Vaughn in any stereotype. I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/there-are-enough-negative-images-of-black-women-out-there-and-i-did/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [I write because I am a Black woman, listening attentively to her people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-write-because-i-am-a-black-woman-listening-attentively-to-her-people/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) [Browse all 676 Black women quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-women/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was growing up, there was no one. There were very few black women in tech; there were very few black women in the fashion game. We didn't have our Grace Jones - Grace Jones was before my time. 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