--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Certain black leaders would believe that…" description: "\"Certain black leaders would believe that you have to go through their prism: 'If I lay my hand on you, you're OK.' So many people have made a living of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/douglas-wilder-24913_believe_certain-black-leaders-would-believe-that_1365534.png" --- # Certain black leaders would believe that you have to go… ![“Certain black leaders would believe that you have to go through their prism: 'If I lay my hand on you, you're OK.' So many people have made a living off of the pimping of race.” quote by Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/douglas-wilder-24913_believe_certain-black-leaders-would-believe-that_1365534.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/douglas-wilder-24913_believe_certain-black-leaders-would-believe-that_1365534.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/douglas-wilder-24913_believe_certain-black-leaders-would-believe-that_1365534.png) > “Certain black leaders would believe that you have to go through their prism: 'If I lay my hand on you, you're OK.' So many people have made a living off of the pimping of race.” [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He critiques how some black leaders impose a narrow identity, and how race can be exploited for profit. **In simple terms:** Warns against narrow racial identity and exploitation. Key Takeaway Resist limiting racial narratives. Themes race leadership exploitation Mood critical thought‑provoking Type political social commentary When to use this quote - community organizing - policy advocacy - education programs Key Concepts identity politics economic gain Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders promote inclusive identity? - What are ethical ways to address racial issues? A Different Perspective Overgeneralizing can ignore individual agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-leaders/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pimping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pimping/) [Prisms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prisms/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [Bad leaders believe their team works for them. Great leaders believe they work for their team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-den-heijer/bad-leaders-believe-their-team-works-for-them-great-leaders-believe/) [Alexander Den Heijer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-den-heijer/) > [“I know nothing about war. But let me tell you what I believe. I think running from responsibility breeds self-loathing and despair. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/i-know-nothing-about-war-but-let-me-tell-you-what-i-believe-i-think/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [“And yet we have an never-ending series of politicians and political leaders who believe that they can not only make choices for their population,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nuttall/and-yet-we-have-an-never-ending-series-of-politicians-and-political/) [Christopher Nuttall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nuttall/) > [Smart leaders believe only half of what they hear. Discerning leaders know which have to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/smart-leaders-believe-only-half-of-what-they-hear-discerning-leaders/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Bad leaders believe that they have to project control at all times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/bad-leaders-believe-that-they-have-to-project-control-at-all-times/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Our reverence for workaholism has produced corporate leaders who believe they don't need sleep, and neither should anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-coren/our-reverence-for-workaholism-has-produced-corporate-leaders-who/) [Stanley Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-coren/) > [I'm glad to know that we do have political leaders that believe in God, and that has been true from the days of George…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-m-glad-to-know-that-we-do-have-political-leaders-that-believe-in/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Value-based leaders believe in democratic workplaces in which employees participate in decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-o-toole/value-based-leaders-believe-in-democratic-workplaces-in-which/) [James O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-o-toole/) > [Great leaders give everyone something to believe in, not something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/great-leaders-give-everyone-something-to-believe-in-not-something-to/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [In order to restore our country to the principles on which it was founded, we need to elect leaders that believe in the principles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-o-donnell/in-order-to-restore-our-country-to-the-principles-on-which-it-was/) [Christine O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-o-donnell/) > [...perhaps the most distinguishing trait of visionary leaders is that they believe in a goal that benefits not only themselves, but others as well.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/perhaps-the-most-distinguishing-trait-of-visionary-leaders-is-that/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Once again, America finds itself with some leaders who believe we can ignore the world without consequences here at home. Apparently they're oblivious to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/once-again-america-finds-itself-with-some-leaders-who-believe-we-can/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [“God's leaders believe the impossible and move in the eternal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-k-white/god-s-leaders-believe-the-impossible-and-move-in-the-eternal/) [Sherry K. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-k-white/) > [Jesus said, 'Judge not, lest ye be judged.' Let's stop trying to choose the political leaders who we believe are the most godly because,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-falwell-jr/jesus-said-judge-not-lest-ye-be-judged-let-s-stop-trying-to-choose/) [Jerry Falwell, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-falwell-jr/) > [Libraries are brothels for the mind. Which means that librarians are the madams, greeting punters, understanding their strange tastes and needs, and pimping their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-browning/libraries-are-brothels-for-the-mind-which-means-that-librarians-are/) [Guy Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-browning/) ## More by Douglas Wilder > [Africa is not a country, but it is a continent like none other. It has that which is elegantly vast or awfully little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/africa-is-not-a-country-but-it-is-a-continent-like-none-other-it-has/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [The first black president will be a politician who is black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/the-first-black-president-will-be-a-politician-who-is-black/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [Government or politics in America today is big business. Everybody makes money involving themselves in one way or the other, whether it's pollsters, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/government-or-politics-in-america-today-is-big-business-everybody/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [Sept. 11 jolted America out of its second gilded age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/sept-11-jolted-america-out-of-its-second-gilded-age/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [Greece's European neighbors were able step in and bolster the weak foundation on which Greece's free-spending budget was based. It would be difficult for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/greece-s-european-neighbors-were-able-step-in-and-bolster-the-weak/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [Since Obama has expressed admiration for the portrait of Abraham Lincoln that Doris Kearns Goodwin paints in 'Team of Rivals,' he could do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/since-obama-has-expressed-admiration-for-the-portrait-of-abraham/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [My experience politically has always been that one-word definition of politics: money. Keep your eye on the buck. And that tells you where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/my-experience-politically-has-always-been-that-one-word-definition-of/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [During the 2008 campaign, I strongly endorsed Barack Obama for president. I did so early, when many Democratic leaders - including many prominent African-American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/during-the-2008-campaign-i-strongly-endorsed-barack-obama-for/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [What is blackness? Is it the way you talk? Do you got to say, 'Dey this, dey dat.' Or the way you dress? Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/what-is-blackness-is-it-the-way-you-talk-do-you-got-to-say-dey-this/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [You don't ever earn a right to stop doing anything if you feel there is an obligation to move in terms of public service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/you-don-t-ever-earn-a-right-to-stop-doing-anything-if-you-feel-there/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [Many voted in 2008 with the desire to see racism and racists humiliated by having a qualified black man elected president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/many-voted-in-2008-with-the-desire-to-see-racism-and-racists/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [Slavery is nothing to joke about. The history of this nation's involvement with slavery is nothing to pass off in a joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/slavery-is-nothing-to-joke-about-the-history-of-this-nation-s/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [There will be those who will tell you that you can't make it because of how you look, because of the way you talk.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/there-will-be-those-who-will-tell-you-that-you-can-t-make-it-because/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [I fought in Korea, front line. I knew who the enemy were. The enemy were the people who were firing at me. And shooting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/i-fought-in-korea-front-line-i-knew-who-the-enemy-were-the-enemy-were/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) > [ Slavery is nothing to joke about! And the history of this nation's \[the USA's\] involvement with slavery is nothing to pass off in a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilder/slavery-is-nothing-to-joke-about-and-the-history-of-this-nation-s-the/) [Douglas Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) [Explore all 23 Douglas Wilder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilder/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Certain black leaders would believe that you have to go through their prism: 'If I lay my hand on you, you're OK.' 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