--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the beginning, I found myself dealing…" description: "\"In the beginning, I found myself dealing with a show business dictated by male white supremacists and chauvinists. As a black female, I had to learn ho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/diahann-carroll-30572_aggressive_in-the-beginning-i-found-myself-dealing_569781.jpg" --- # In the beginning, I found myself dealing with a show… ![“In the beginning, I found myself dealing with a show business dictated by male white supremacists and chauvinists. As a black female, I had to learn how to tap dance around the situation. I had to ... find a way to present my point of view without being pushy or aggressive. In the old days, the…” quote by Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/diahann-carroll-30572_aggressive_in-the-beginning-i-found-myself-dealing_569781.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/diahann-carroll-30572_aggressive_in-the-beginning-i-found-myself-dealing_569781.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/diahann-carroll-30572_aggressive_in-the-beginning-i-found-myself-dealing_569781.jpg) > “In the beginning, I found myself dealing with a show business dictated by male white supremacists and chauvinists. As a black female, I had to learn how to tap dance around the situation. I had to ... find a way to present my point of view without being pushy or aggressive. In the old days, the only women I saw in this business were in makeup, hairdressing, and wardrobe departments. Now I'm surrounded by women executives, writers, directors, producers, and even women stagehands.” [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The entertainment industry historically marginalized Black women, forcing them to navigate and subtly influence a male‑dominated space, now seeing increased representation. **In simple terms:** Black women faced exclusion, now gaining roles. Key Takeaway Advocate for inclusive leadership and mentorship. Themes diversity power dynamics representation Mood determined hopeful Type social cultural. When to use this quote - casting decisions - executive hiring - creative collaborations Key Concepts gender race media studies Questions to Reflect On - What steps can sustain genuine inclusion? - How does representation change storytelling? A Different Perspective Progress can be uneven and tokenistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [Female](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female/) [Hairdressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hairdressing/) [Makeup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makeup/) [Males](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/males/) [Old days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-days/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/) [Show business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/show-business/) [Tap dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tap-dance/) ## Related quotes > [Of course I am aware that there is a level of sexism in any large institution, but I find, in television and film, most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abi-morgan/of-course-i-am-aware-that-there-is-a-level-of-sexism-in-any-large/) [Abi Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abi-morgan/) > [I cut my hair myself and colour it. I know everybody in the hairdressing business despairs of me, but it's so much easier to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-lumley/i-cut-my-hair-myself-and-colour-it-i-know-everybody-in-the/) [Joanna Lumley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-lumley/) > [I came home after a year and although my profession was only hairdressing, I knew I could change it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidal-sassoon/i-came-home-after-a-year-and-although-my-profession-was-only/) [Vidal Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidal-sassoon/) > [I got into hairdressing and moved from Dorset to London, where I got an apprenticeship at Vidal Sassoon. This was around '83 or '84.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guido-palau/i-got-into-hairdressing-and-moved-from-dorset-to-london-where-i-got/) [Guido Palau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guido-palau/) > [For nine years I worked to change what was hairdressing then into a geometric art form with color, perm without setting which had never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidal-sassoon/for-nine-years-i-worked-to-change-what-was-hairdressing-then-into-a/) [Vidal Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidal-sassoon/) > [When red-headed people are above a certain social grade their hair is auburn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/when-red-headed-people-are-above-a-certain-social-grade-their-hair-is/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Do not have your child's hair cut by a real hairdresser in a real hairdressing salon. He is, at this point, far too short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/do-not-have-your-child-s-hair-cut-by-a-real-hairdresser-in-a-real/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [Hairdressing in general hasn't been given the kudos it deserves. It's not recognised by enough people as a worthy craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidal-sassoon/hairdressing-in-general-hasn-t-been-given-the-kudos-it-deserves-it-s/) [Vidal Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidal-sassoon/) > [The Army is into every business in this country. Except hairdressing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asma-jahangir/the-army-is-into-every-business-in-this-country-except-hairdressing/) [Asma Jahangir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asma-jahangir/) > [My mother had a premonition and she felt that hairdressing would be very very good for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidal-sassoon/my-mother-had-a-premonition-and-she-felt-that-hairdressing-would-be/) [Vidal Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidal-sassoon/) > [I find it alarming that people are so convinced they're the best at anything - presenting, hairdressing, getting dressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-winkleman/i-find-it-alarming-that-people-are-so-convinced-they-re-the-best-at/) [Claudia Winkleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-winkleman/) > [I got a telegraph from my mother who said that my step-father had had a heart attack, come home and earn a living. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidal-sassoon/i-got-a-telegraph-from-my-mother-who-said-that-my-step-father-had-had/) [Vidal Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidal-sassoon/) > [I was reared in an atmosphere where a great deal of attention was paid to women's hairdressing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-von-stroheim/i-was-reared-in-an-atmosphere-where-a-great-deal-of-attention-was/) [Erich von Stroheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-von-stroheim/) > [I was the sort of person who didn't care about hairdressing and clothes and parties and boyfriends. I really wanted to be in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/i-was-the-sort-of-person-who-didn-t-care-about-hairdressing-and/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [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/) ## More by Diahann Carroll > [I have a line of clothing at J.C. Penney's... and I'm lucky to be affiliated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/i-have-a-line-of-clothing-at-j-c-penney-s-and-i-m-lucky-to-be/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) > [I considered Nat King Cole to be a friend and, in many ways, a mentor. He always had words of profound advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/i-considered-nat-king-cole-to-be-a-friend-and-in-many-ways-a-mentor/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) > [The lesson that I would hope everyone would learn quite early in their career is don't take it personally. Whatever it is that happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/the-lesson-that-i-would-hope-everyone-would-learn-quite-early-in/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) > [I hope that there are no persons that would want to think ill of me in any direction or any behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/i-hope-that-there-are-no-persons-that-would-want-to-think-ill-of-me/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) > [If you're not invited to the party, throw your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/if-you-re-not-invited-to-the-party-throw-your-own/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) > [I suppose our lives need to be more integrated. We have white communities and black communities and white country clubs and black country clubs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/i-suppose-our-lives-need-to-be-more-integrated-we-have-white/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) > [I am a breast cancer survivor. I was intrigued to learn how many people prefer to talk to someone if they are familiar with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/i-am-a-breast-cancer-survivor-i-was-intrigued-to-learn-how-many/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) > [With any president it is difficult to predict how the world will be effected by his presence in the white house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/with-any-president-it-is-difficult-to-predict-how-the-world-will-be/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) > [You have to keep your sanity as well as know how to distance yourself from it while still holding onto the reins tightly. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/you-have-to-keep-your-sanity-as-well-as-know-how-to-distance-yourself/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) > [Whenever you're on television, there's a responsibility to look timeless. I worked with the masters of film, fashion and beauty. I took their words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/whenever-you-re-on-television-there-s-a-responsibility-to-look/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) > [I've spent about that amount of time trying to tell the public that there was purpose in... my business, my career and the roller…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/i-ve-spent-about-that-amount-of-time-trying-to-tell-the-public-that/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) > [I had a mom and a pop who kept telling me that I was wonderful at a very early age. So when someone said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/i-had-a-mom-and-a-pop-who-kept-telling-me-that-i-was-wonderful-at-a/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) > [As soon as my mother saw my father, she said, "Oh! I think I'm gonna marry that man." That's the reason I've been married…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/as-soon-as-my-mother-saw-my-father-she-said-oh-i-think-i-m-gonna/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) > [I think if you work in television everyday, and you must be privy to everything happening in television, then do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/i-think-if-you-work-in-television-everyday-and-you-must-be-privy-to/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) > [I like to think I opened doors for other women, although that wasn't my original intention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diahann-carroll/i-like-to-think-i-opened-doors-for-other-women-although-that-wasn-t/) [Diahann Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) [Explore all 17 Diahann Carroll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diahann-carroll/) ## More Aggressive quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. But what good girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/good-girls-don-t-hurt-other-people-s-feelings-good-girls-are-not/) [Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Passive...Aggressive...Pussy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-azzarello/passive-aggressive-pussy/) [Brian Azzarello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-azzarello/) > [I'm not a fan of endless mystery in storytelling - I like to know where the mythology's going; I like to get there in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kripke/i-m-not-a-fan-of-endless-mystery-in-storytelling-i-like-to-know-where/) [Eric Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kripke/) > [Most conservatives - by which I mean normal people - have little conception of the aggressive and revolutionary force that confronts them. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bethell/most-conservatives-by-which-i-mean-normal-people-have-little/) [Tom Bethell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bethell/) > [If I serve good and play aggressive from the baseline, I can beat everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karolina-pliskova/if-i-serve-good-and-play-aggressive-from-the-baseline-i-can-beat/) [Karolina Pliskova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karolina-pliskova/) > [I'm just trying to be aggressive. Be aggressive with my shot. Be aggressive going to the rim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-murray/i-m-just-trying-to-be-aggressive-be-aggressive-with-my-shot-be/) [Jamal Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-murray/) > [I see other teams playing aggressive, attacking football, they are games I switch on and watch. They are the football teams I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-postecoglou/i-see-other-teams-playing-aggressive-attacking-football-they-are/) [Angelos Postecoglou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-postecoglou/) > [You cannot will yourself to be happy while believing that you have no right to happiness, or that you are unworthy of it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-roberts/you-cannot-will-yourself-to-be-happy-while-believing-that-you-have-no/) [Jane Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-roberts/) > [I have definitely noticed I am very passionate. So if I'm fighting with someone I'll be SO super loud and aggressive, and make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/i-have-definitely-noticed-i-am-very-passionate-so-if-i-m-fighting/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [ I think the president's \[Barack Obama\] position has been very clear on Syria. He wants more aggressive, he's put the Special Ops on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-position-has-been-very-clear-on/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/) [George W. 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