--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: More often than not, we think of…" description: "\"More often than not, we think of ourselves as black, white, Asian, or Hispanic pretty much in this country, but the real America is much more than that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/don-lemon-10223_america_more-often-than-not-we-think-of-ourselve_2748470.jpg" --- # More often than not, we think of ourselves as black… ![“More often than not, we think of ourselves as black, white, Asian, or Hispanic pretty much in this country, but the real America is much more than that.” quote by Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/don-lemon-10223_america_more-often-than-not-we-think-of-ourselve_2748470.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/don-lemon-10223_america_more-often-than-not-we-think-of-ourselve_2748470.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/don-lemon-10223_america_more-often-than-not-we-think-of-ourselve_2748470.jpg) > “More often than not, we think of ourselves as black, white, Asian, or Hispanic pretty much in this country, but the real America is much more than that.” [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. America’s diversity exceeds simple racial categories, urging a broader, inclusive identity. **In simple terms:** America is more diverse than basic racial labels. Key Takeaway Embrace a multifaceted view of national identity. Themes diversity identity nation Mood inclusive thought‑provoking Type social political When to use this quote - public discourse - policy making - community building Key Concepts cultural studies political science Questions to Reflect On - How can we recognize hidden diversity? - What policies reflect a broader American identity? A Different Perspective Oversimplification can erase nuanced experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Hispanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hispanic/) ## Related quotes > [I think it's easier, I really do, because of not having that similar history, so that's why I think two-thirds of these mixed congregations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/i-think-it-s-easier-i-really-do-because-of-not-having-that-similar/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [You can't ignore the Asian and Hispanic populations in L.A. We can let audiences know independent film is not just about white men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-mitchell/you-can-t-ignore-the-asian-and-hispanic-populations-in-l-a-we-can-let/) [Elvis Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-mitchell/) > [I feel like decades ago it was either youre black, white, Asian or Hispanic, or whatever, but today we see more of an acceptance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ilonzeh/i-feel-like-decades-ago-it-was-either-youre-black-white-asian-or/) [Annie Ilonzeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ilonzeh/) > [The poetry you read has been written for you, each of you - black, white, Hispanic, man, woman, gay, straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/the-poetry-you-read-has-been-written-for-you-each-of-you-black-white/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [A recent poll shows that a majority of blacks, whites, Asians and Hispanics do not think the Census should be classifying people as black,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/a-recent-poll-shows-that-a-majority-of-blacks-whites-asians-and/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It's a mixed crowd at the dogs - black, white, hispanic - but to Walt they all look like Jackie Gleason. Heavyset guys with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/it-s-a-mixed-crowd-at-the-dogs-black-white-hispanic-but-to-walt-they/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [I tell people all of the time that they would make any show in this business - whether it's black, white, Hispanic, Jewish, Colombian,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-acevedo/i-tell-people-all-of-the-time-that-they-would-make-any-show-in-this/) Kirk Acevedo > [Finally, let us understand that when we stand together, we will always win. When men and women stand together for justice, we win. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/finally-let-us-understand-that-when-we-stand-together-we-will-always/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Well, first of all, we've got to get away from being offended by the truth. We've seen a 41 percent increase in food stamp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/well-first-of-all-we-ve-got-to-get-away-from-being-offended-by-the/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [Anyone who watches a lot of television, or listens to pop music, is familiar with a certain vision of America. If not exactly colorblind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/anyone-who-watches-a-lot-of-television-or-listens-to-pop-music-is/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [I look in the eyes and I see the heart. As long as it's a human story. I would like to turn on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-bassett/i-look-in-the-eyes-and-i-see-the-heart-as-long-as-it-s-a-human-story/) [Angela Bassett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-bassett/) > [You can't be afraid to speak the truth. If you're speaking truthfully - no matter if you're White, Black, Hispanic, Asian - if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ballentine/you-can-t-be-afraid-to-speak-the-truth-if-you-re-speaking-truthfully/) Warren Ballentine > [So that’s what we want is a secure and sovereign nation and, you know, I don’t know that all of you are Latino. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharron-angle/so-that-s-what-we-want-is-a-secure-and-sovereign-nation-and-you-know/) [Sharron Angle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharron-angle/) > [Today we find many actors, they are Latin, they are Hispanic, they are living in the Unites States, they are American, but very rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-braga/today-we-find-many-actors-they-are-latin-they-are-hispanic-they-are/) [Sonia Braga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-braga/) > [There are features that African Americans have that are similar! There are features that white people have that are similar! Features that Hispanic people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/there-are-features-that-african-americans-have-that-are-similar-there/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) ## More by Don Lemon > [I don't know if I would have the same take on world matters and social issues if I were not gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-have-the-same-take-on-world-matters-and/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [I don't consider myself a celebrity. I'm just a journalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-celebrity-i-m-just-a-journalist/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [If you're going to be in the business of news and telling people the truth... you've got to be honest. You've got to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/if-you-re-going-to-be-in-the-business-of-news-and-telling-people-the/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [I'm not concerned with what people think of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-m-not-concerned-with-what-people-think-of-me/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [Paula Deen is a human being. She deserves forgiveness and a chance at redemption as much as anyone else. America is about redemption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/paula-deen-is-a-human-being-she-deserves-forgiveness-and-a-chance-at/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [I'm a gay black guy. If I can't ask questions without caring what people think of me, who can?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-m-a-gay-black-guy-if-i-can-t-ask-questions-without-caring-what/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [Some people are saying, Justin Bieber is racist. Is he? I dont know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/some-people-are-saying-justin-bieber-is-racist-is-he-i-dont-know/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [When someone is in our tribe, I think it's particularly easier for us to tell them apart, because we're used to their facial features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/when-someone-is-in-our-tribe-i-think-it-s-particularly-easier-for-us/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [I've never been one to take glee in anyone's demise, and when I saw Jerry Sandusky walk out in handcuffs, I did kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-ve-never-been-one-to-take-glee-in-anyone-s-demise-and-when-i-saw/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [I do feel that Paula Deen should not have lost her job, and I've said this on the air. The marketplace should have decided.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-do-feel-that-paula-deen-should-not-have-lost-her-job-and-i-ve-said/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [The best way not to encounter America's health care system is not to have to encounter it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/the-best-way-not-to-encounter-america-s-health-care-system-is-not-to/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [It's not ideological to ask someone to stick to the question presented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/it-s-not-ideological-to-ask-someone-to-stick-to-the-question-presented/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [Whenever I see John Lewis, I invariably say, 'Thank you.' And I will never stop. I don't know how he's still standing, because what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/whenever-i-see-john-lewis-i-invariably-say-thank-you-and-i-will-never/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [I am a big devourer of James Baldwin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-am-a-big-devourer-of-james-baldwin/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [Who needs a bullet piercing, armor piercing bullet to go hunting? Who needs an assault rifle to go hunting? You can't even use the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/who-needs-a-bullet-piercing-armor-piercing-bullet-to-go-hunting-who/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) [Explore all 67 Don Lemon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) ## 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. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "More often than not, we think of ourselves as black, white, Asian, or Hispanic pretty much in this country, but the real America is much more than that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Don Lemon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/more-often-than-not-we-think-of-ourselves-as-black-white-asian-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/more-often-than-not-we-think-of-ourselves-as-black-white-asian-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/don-lemon-10223_america_more-often-than-not-we-think-of-ourselve_2748470.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/don-lemon-10223_america_more-often-than-not-we-think-of-ourselve_2748470.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/don-lemon-10223_america_more-often-than-not-we-think-of-ourselve_2748470.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“More often than not, we think of ourselves as black, white, Asian, or Hispanic pretty much in this country…” — Don Lemon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Don Lemon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "More often than not, we think...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/more-often-than-not-we-think-of-ourselves-as-black-white-asian-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/more-often-than-not-we-think-of-ourselves-as-black-white-asian-or/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```