--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Poor is the new black." description: "\"Poor is the new black.\" — Erykah Badu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/erykah-badu-1649_black_poor-is-the-new-black-3054161_3054161.jpg" --- # Poor is the new black. ![“Poor is the new black.” quote by Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/erykah-badu-1649_black_poor-is-the-new-black-3054161_3054161.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/erykah-badu-1649_black_poor-is-the-new-black-3054161_3054161.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/erykah-badu-1649_black_poor-is-the-new-black-3054161_3054161.jpg) > “Poor is the new black.” [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The phrase suggests that poverty has become fashionable, critiquing materialism and social attitudes. **In simple terms:** Poverty is trendy. Key Takeaway Question societal values. Themes social critique fashion economics Mood critical reflective Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - media analysis - personal finance - social media trends Key Concepts cultural commentary socioeconomic status Questions to Reflect On - What does “poor is the new black” reveal about consumer culture? - How can we address the underlying issues? A Different Perspective It may trivialize real hardship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [New Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-black-504217/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-new-971336/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) ## Related quotes > [It's really hard to be poor in New York - I was really poor when I lived in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-radnor/it-s-really-hard-to-be-poor-in-new-york-i-was-really-poor-when-i/) [Josh Radnor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-radnor/) > [Pink...is the new black. PINK is the new black. Pink is the new black. When all we all that f\*cking black is the new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avenged-sevenfold/pink-is-the-new-black-pink-is-the-new-black-pink-is-the-new-black/) [Avenged Sevenfold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avenged-sevenfold/) > [I'm not that interested in fashion... When someone says that lime-green is the new black for this season, you just want to tell them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-oldfield/i-m-not-that-interested-in-fashion-when-someone-says-that-lime-green/) [Bruce Oldfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-oldfield/) > [Orphan Black is the new black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-webb/orphan-black-is-the-new-black/) [Haley Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-webb/) > [Orange Is the New Black' was a game changer for me; Laverne Cox's Sophia Burset was the first trans series regular character I'd seen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-michael-smith/orange-is-the-new-black-was-a-game-changer-for-me-laverne-cox-s/) [Brian Michael Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-michael-smith/) > [It is time to celebrate the New Black Americans - those who have sealed the Deal, who aren't beholden to liberal indulgence any more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/it-is-time-to-celebrate-the-new-black-americans-those-who-have-sealed/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [“A literary fetish is the new black”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ganek/a-literary-fetish-is-the-new-black/) [Danielle Ganek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ganek/) > [“Dance is the new black.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorana-jane/dance-is-the-new-black/) [Lorana Jane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorana-jane/) > [Popsicles should be the new black and then everyone would have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/popsicles-should-be-the-new-black-and-then-everyone-would-have-one/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [I who have gone the gamut from an almost angry rejection of my dark skin by some of my brainwashed brothers and sisters to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwendolyn-brooks/i-who-have-gone-the-gamut-from-an-almost-angry-rejection-of-my-dark/) [Gwendolyn Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwendolyn-brooks/) > [“Do you intend to get any closer or is arm's length the new black?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-delucy/do-you-intend-to-get-any-closer-or-is-arm-s-length-the-new-black/) [Jennifer DeLucy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-delucy/) > [The “new black” doesn’t blame other races for our issues. The “new black” dreams and realizes that it’s not a pigmentation; it’s a mentality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharrell-williams/the-new-black-doesn-t-blame-other-races-for-our-issues-the-new-black/) [Pharrell Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharrell-williams/) > [Terrorism is not new to black people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-jordan/terrorism-is-not-new-to-black-people/) [Vernon Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-jordan/) > [“Crowdfunding is the new black.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowena-wiseman/crowdfunding-is-the-new-black/) [Rowena Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowena-wiseman/) > [Bald is the new black!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-porter/bald-is-the-new-black/) [Gail Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-porter/) ## More by Erykah Badu > [When I get ready to do an album, that means I have something to say for the sake of words, and I listen back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/when-i-get-ready-to-do-an-album-that-means-i-have-something-to-say/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [I just love expressing my joy and my mind through what I wear, or how I cook, or how I dance, or how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-just-love-expressing-my-joy-and-my-mind-through-what-i-wear-or-how/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [...When it come to da: " What it do?! I don't fall for da: "Woop- TeE- WoOoo!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/when-it-come-to-da-what-it-do-i-don-t-fall-for-da-woop-tee-woooo/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [I relate to that - he inspires me across the board. His music inspires me and reminds me to maintain honesty in the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-relate-to-that-he-inspires-me-across-the-board-his-music-inspires/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [I'm just being who I am and expressing myself as everyone else does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-m-just-being-who-i-am-and-expressing-myself-as-everyone-else-does/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [I don't know if I'll ever accomplish most of my dreams - I have so many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-don-t-know-if-i-ll-ever-accomplish-most-of-my-dreams-i-have-so-many/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [There are millions and billions of atoms of memory of all kinds of musical themes in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/there-are-millions-and-billions-of-atoms-of-memory-of-all-kinds-of/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [My second mother is my maternal grandmother. Her name is Thelma. She also gave me a very powerful medicine; she made sure that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/my-second-mother-is-my-maternal-grandmother-her-name-is-thelma-she/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [My mom was the Diana Ross of our clan. She was always up-to-date, and always knew what to do and what not to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/my-mom-was-the-diana-ross-of-our-clan-she-was-always-up-to-date-and/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [I actually started writing it because I was inspired by my own personal growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-actually-started-writing-it-because-i-was-inspired-by-my-own/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [People who say that music is dead or hip-hop is dead are refusing to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/people-who-say-that-music-is-dead-or-hip-hop-is-dead-are-refusing-to/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [My first, my birth mother - her name is Queenie - she gave me a powerful medicine when I was a child. She told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/my-first-my-birth-mother-her-name-is-queenie-she-gave-me-a-powerful/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [I'm a recovering undercover over-lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-m-a-recovering-undercover-over-lover/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [They usually have a piano in every nursing home, and I always wanted to perform for whoever would listen when I learned something. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/they-usually-have-a-piano-in-every-nursing-home-and-i-always-wanted/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [ Through \[my children\] patience, they're showing me how much they support what's going on, because I'm having to do a lot of work right… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/through-my-children-patience-they-re-showing-me-how-much-they-support/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) [Explore all 219 Erykah Badu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) ## More Black quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [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/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) [Frank B. Wilderson III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-b-wilderson-iii/) > [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/) > [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) [Browse all 11,655 Black quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Poor is the new black.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erykah Badu" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/poor-is-the-new-black/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Black" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/poor-is-the-new-black/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/erykah-badu-1649_black_poor-is-the-new-black-3054161_3054161.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/erykah-badu-1649_black_poor-is-the-new-black-3054161_3054161.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/erykah-badu-1649_black_poor-is-the-new-black-3054161_3054161.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Poor is the new black.” — Erykah Badu", "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": "Erykah Badu", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Poor is the new black.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/poor-is-the-new-black/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/poor-is-the-new-black/#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 } } ] } ```