---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would argue that we have a generation…"
description: "\"I would argue that we have a generation of young people, particularly minorities, who are no longer putting up with the kinds of things their parents p..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/donna-shalala-15948_acceptable_i-would-argue-that-we-have-a-generation_820684.jpg"
---

#  I would argue that we have a generation of young people…

![“I would argue that we have a generation of young people, particularly minorities, who are no longer putting up with the kinds of things their parents put up with. They're much more self-confident. It's no longer acceptable to make fun of people because of race or sex. But it has always been…” quote by Donna Shalala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/donna-shalala-15948_acceptable_i-would-argue-that-we-have-a-generation_820684.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/donna-shalala-15948_acceptable_i-would-argue-that-we-have-a-generation_820684.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/donna-shalala-15948_acceptable_i-would-argue-that-we-have-a-generation_820684.jpg)

> “I would argue that we have a generation of young people, particularly minorities, who are no longer putting up with the kinds of things their parents put up with. They're much more self-confident. It's no longer acceptable to make fun of people because of race or sex. But it has always been present in American society.”

[Donna Shalala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Young minorities now reject tolerating discrimination, showing confidence and demanding respect, reflecting ongoing racial and gender bias in society.

**In simple terms:** Young people reject tolerance of discrimination.

Key Takeaway

Embrace confidence, demand respect.

Themes

e confidence social justice

Mood

determined hopeful

Type

social political

When to use this quote

- college campuses
- workplace
- social media
- activism

Key Concepts

Intersectionality generational shift

Questions to Reflect On

- How can allies support this confidence?
- What barriers persist despite changing attitudes?

A Different Perspective

Resistance may face backlash from entrenched attitudes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[American society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-society/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Minorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minorities/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self confident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-confident/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/)

## Related quotes

> [One current reaction to change in families, for example, is the proposal for more "education for parenthood," on the theory that this training will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/one-current-reaction-to-change-in-families-for-example-is-the/)

[Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/)

> [Never underestimate the power of self-absorption, including your parents' self-absorption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/never-underestimate-the-power-of-self-absorption-including-your/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [A white woman has only one handicap to overcome - that of sex. I have two - both sex and race. ... Colored men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-church-terrell/a-white-woman-has-only-one-handicap-to-overcome-that-of-sex-i-have/)

[Mary Church Terrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-church-terrell/)

> [The most Beautiful people are the ones that don't look like one race or even one sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/the-most-beautiful-people-are-the-ones-that-don-t-look-like-one-race/)

[Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/)

> [I learned to think about religion, race and sex through the complex and often unattractive medium of jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-hudgins/i-learned-to-think-about-religion-race-and-sex-through-the-complex/)

[Andrew Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-hudgins/)

> [When alone I am not aware of my race or my sex, both in need of social contexts for definition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-hong-kingston/when-alone-i-am-not-aware-of-my-race-or-my-sex-both-in-need-of-social/)

[Maxine Hong Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-hong-kingston/)

> [I rejected the notion that my race or sex would bar my success in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/i-rejected-the-notion-that-my-race-or-sex-would-bar-my-success-in-life/)

[Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/)

> [It's all sex for me. Politics is sex. Race is sex. It's the novel. It's the novel!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/it-s-all-sex-for-me-politics-is-sex-race-is-sex-it-s-the-novel-it-s/)

[James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/)

> [The public, unlike our governing elite, are not obsessed by race and sex. They are rightly interested only in the contents of the person's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hitchens/the-public-unlike-our-governing-elite-are-not-obsessed-by-race-and/)

[Peter Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hitchens/)

> [We are near 2010….2010!! Yet race, sex and religion still play a major role in a hate driven society. For the love of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asher-roth/we-are-near-2010-2010-yet-race-sex-and-religion-still-play-a-major/)

[Asher Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asher-roth/)

> [My race and sex had a great deal more to do with what people believed I could do than with what I actually could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-e-butler/my-race-and-sex-had-a-great-deal-more-to-do-with-what-people-believed/)

[Octavia E. Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-e-butler/)

> [Men are self-confident because they grow up identifying with super-heroes. Women have bad self-images because they grow up identifying with Barbie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/men-are-self-confident-because-they-grow-up-identifying-with-super/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [“Jedi are always assessing situations, actions and possibilities. Jedi don’t just think outside of the box with the help from the Force, they also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/jedi-are-always-assessing-situations-actions-and-possibilities-jedi/)

[Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/)

> [“Self-confident people face their fears head-on and are willing to take risks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/self-confident-people-face-their-fears-head-on-and-are-willing-to/)

[Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/)

> [It's difficult to believe in yourself because the idea of self is an artificial construction. You are, in fact, part of the glorious oneness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/it-s-difficult-to-believe-in-yourself-because-the-idea-of-self-is-an/)

[Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/)

## More by Donna Shalala

> [It's coaches. It's people that are involved in kids' lives at every level, and it's supporting their parents. Their parents need better jobs. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/it-s-coaches-it-s-people-that-are-involved-in-kids-lives-at-every/)

[Donna Shalala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/)

> [By putting people around me who will calm me down and slow me down and make sure I work through an issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/by-putting-people-around-me-who-will-calm-me-down-and-slow-me-down/)

[Donna Shalala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/)

> [I'm pretty disciplined and am almost always on schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/i-m-pretty-disciplined-and-am-almost-always-on-schedule/)

[Donna Shalala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/)

> [Higher education is one of few areas where this country competes with the rest of the world and wins. The best of American higher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/higher-education-is-one-of-few-areas-where-this-country-competes-with/)

[Donna Shalala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/)

> [Sure, it is apparent that presidents are looking at polls, but they are also stepping up on issues. President Clinton stepped up on tobacco.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/sure-it-is-apparent-that-presidents-are-looking-at-polls-but-they-are/)

[Donna Shalala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/)

> [Fear drives you and makes you better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/fear-drives-you-and-makes-you-better/)

[Donna Shalala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/)

> [I bring other constituencies - I also have ties to minority communities. And obviously, to the world of world-class research universities. So I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/i-bring-other-constituencies-i-also-have-ties-to-minority-communities/)

[Donna Shalala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/)

> [Sex education has to do with what's in people's head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/sex-education-has-to-do-with-what-s-in-people-s-head/)

[Donna Shalala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/)

> [I try to deal with my serious reading before work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/i-try-to-deal-with-my-serious-reading-before-work/)

[Donna Shalala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/)

> [I get to work at about 7:30 or 8 unless I have a breakfast meeting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/i-get-to-work-at-about-7-30-or-8-unless-i-have-a-breakfast-meeting/)

[Donna Shalala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/)

> [But for me, it is when a student has died. I find the death of a young person the most difficult and painful of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/but-for-me-it-is-when-a-student-has-died-i-find-the-death-of-a-young/)

[Donna Shalala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/)

> [The economic dimension is very clear. I was at a dinner party, a mother got up, who's a very distinguished scientist, and said she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/the-economic-dimension-is-very-clear-i-was-at-a-dinner-party-a-mother/)

[Donna Shalala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/)

> [I'll be one of the spokespeople, one of the people who sells the Administration's plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/i-ll-be-one-of-the-spokespeople-one-of-the-people-who-sells-the/)

[Donna Shalala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/)

> [I have always hired people of different ages. Young people and older people. People in their 70s and in their 20s. People who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/i-have-always-hired-people-of-different-ages-young-people-and-older/)

[Donna Shalala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/)

> [What you really remember at the beginning was that you have to throw a budget together. We made some terrible mistakes at the beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/what-you-really-remember-at-the-beginning-was-that-you-have-to-throw/)

[Donna Shalala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/)

[Explore all 41 Donna Shalala quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/)

## More Acceptable quotes

> [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

> [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. When somebody actually picked up a copy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-seeing-the-national-inquirer-at-the/)

[Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/)

> [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/)

[Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/)

> [You cannot have 300-some million Americans - and really, right, the global citizenry be at risk of having their phone conversations intercepted with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/you-cannot-have-300-some-million-americans-and-really-right-the/)

[Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/)

> [THE REAL PURPOSE OF HOLOCAUST REVISIONISM IS TO MAKE NATIONAL SOCIALISM AN ACCEPTABLE POLITICAL ALTERNATIVE AGAIN.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-covington/the-real-purpose-of-holocaust-revisionism-is-to-make-national/)

Harold Covington

> [The government has once again made the right socially acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elfriede-jelinek/the-government-has-once-again-made-the-right-socially-acceptable/)

[Elfriede Jelinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elfriede-jelinek/)

> [The study of Freemasonry is the study of man as a candidate for a blessed eternity. It furnishes examples of holy living, and displays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-study-of-freemasonry-is-the-study-of-man-as-a-candidate-for-a/)

[William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/)

> [Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. I can think of some answers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/or-why-it-is-acceptable-to-train-fast-runners-and-high-jumpers-but/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/)

[Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/)

> [If a man is pictured chopping off a woman's breast, it only gets an R rating; but if, God forbid, a man is pictured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-struthers/if-a-man-is-pictured-chopping-off-a-woman-s-breast-it-only-gets-an-r/)

Sally Struthers

> [We cannot guess the outcome of our actions... Which is why our actions must always be acceptable in themselves, and not as strategies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-heilbrun/we-cannot-guess-the-outcome-of-our-actions-which-is-why-our-actions/)

[Carolyn Heilbrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-heilbrun/)

> [In any case, open-seat presidential elections like 2008 just are different in character from incumbent reelects, and I think that's the most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/in-any-case-open-seat-presidential-elections-like-2008-just-are/)

[William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/)

> [It's horrible how money and fame can make you acceptable while, if you're not famous or rich, you're not acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-tonioli/it-s-horrible-how-money-and-fame-can-make-you-acceptable-while-if-you/)

[Bruno Tonioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-tonioli/)

> [I disagree with the prevailing point of view of some black leaders that special treatment for blacks is acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-disagree-with-the-prevailing-point-of-view-of-some-black-leaders/)

[Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/)

> [We get used to a certain kind of colour of form or format, and it's acceptable. And to puncture that is sticking your neck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-krasner/we-get-used-to-a-certain-kind-of-colour-of-form-or-format-and-it-s/)

[Lee Krasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-krasner/)

Browse all 750 Acceptable quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I would argue that we have a generation of young people, particularly minorities, who are no longer putting up with the kinds of things their parents put up with. They're much more self-confident. It's no longer acceptable to make fun of people because of race or sex. But it has always been present in American society.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Donna Shalala"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/i-would-argue-that-we-have-a-generation-of-young-people-particularly/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acceptable"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/i-would-argue-that-we-have-a-generation-of-young-people-particularly/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/donna-shalala-15948_acceptable_i-would-argue-that-we-have-a-generation_820684.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/donna-shalala-15948_acceptable_i-would-argue-that-we-have-a-generation_820684.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/donna-shalala-15948_acceptable_i-would-argue-that-we-have-a-generation_820684.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I would argue that we have a generation of young people, particularly minorities, who are no longer putting…” — Donna Shalala",
                "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": "Donna Shalala",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-shalala/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I would argue that we have...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/i-would-argue-that-we-have-a-generation-of-young-people-particularly/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-shalala/i-would-argue-that-we-have-a-generation-of-young-people-particularly/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
