--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a small kid from Texas, I just…" description: "\"As a small kid from Texas, I just imagined that Hollywood was this world that was really foreign and far away and I didn't see many Asians on screen, s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ce/eugene-lee-yang-19999_far_as-a-small-kid-from-texas-i-just-imagine_1827276.jpg" --- # As a small kid from Texas, I just imagined that Hollywood… ![“As a small kid from Texas, I just imagined that Hollywood was this world that was really foreign and far away and I didn't see many Asians on screen, so I had no idea that I could even be a part of it.” quote by Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ce/eugene-lee-yang-19999_far_as-a-small-kid-from-texas-i-just-imagine_1827276.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ce/eugene-lee-yang-19999_far_as-a-small-kid-from-texas-i-just-imagine_1827276.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ce/eugene-lee-yang-19999_far_as-a-small-kid-from-texas-i-just-imagine_1827276.jpg) > “As a small kid from Texas, I just imagined that Hollywood was this world that was really foreign and far away and I didn't see many Asians on screen, so I had no idea that I could even be a part of it.” [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Growing up with limited representation, the narrator felt Hollywood was distant and doubted personal inclusion, highlighting the impact of media diversity. **In simple terms:** Lack of representation makes careers seem unattainable. Key Takeaway Seek diverse role models and broaden representation. Themes representation media identity aspiration diversity Mood inspirational hopeful Type personal educational When to use this quote - film casting - school curricula - community workshops - media literacy programs Key Concepts Cultural studies media influence self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - How does representation affect personal ambition? - What steps can increase visibility for underrepresented groups? A Different Perspective Changing industry standards takes time and systemic effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) [Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood/) [Texas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/texas/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [There were so few Asians on-screen when I grew up, and the ones who were on-screen weren't given complex characters to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-wu/there-were-so-few-asians-on-screen-when-i-grew-up-and-the-ones-who/) [Constance Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-wu/) > [The whole character of Justin and the club life he lives - I have no experience with it. It's really foreign to me, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-harrison/the-whole-character-of-justin-and-the-club-life-he-lives-i-have-no/) [Randy Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-harrison/) > [When you see natural disasters caught on film you realize how well they had been imagined by Hollywood for such a long time. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-harris/when-you-see-natural-disasters-caught-on-film-you-realize-how-well/) [Jared Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-harris/) > [I wanted to tour the United States because I feel I owe it to the community that I grew up in. When I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-liu/i-wanted-to-tour-the-united-states-because-i-feel-i-owe-it-to-the/) [Amber Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-liu/) > [Casting me as King Arthur was quite bold of 'Spamalot's producers, although it has been historically proved Arthur was Asian, and that Sunday trading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjeev-bhaskar/casting-me-as-king-arthur-was-quite-bold-of-spamalot-s-producers/) [Sanjeev Bhaskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjeev-bhaskar/) > [One stereotype I get a lot as an Asian actress is that you're playing the model minority - that Asians are the best, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-henwick/one-stereotype-i-get-a-lot-as-an-asian-actress-is-that-you-re-playing/) [Jessica Henwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-henwick/) > [Growing up where I was, there were no Asians, no minorities, and there was always something to remind me of what I'm not. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-isaac-chung/growing-up-where-i-was-there-were-no-asians-no-minorities-and-there/) [Lee Isaac Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-isaac-chung/) > [ I'm just honest. They \[asians\] don't want to see black people generally in their movies. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-m-just-honest-they-asians-don-t-want-to-see-black-people-generally/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [Quite honestly, I never thought it would be possible for Asians to make it in the States. But now I feel like it's totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-lau/quite-honestly-i-never-thought-it-would-be-possible-for-asians-to/) [Henry Lau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-lau/) > [Few politicians and analysts understand the very real fault lines among Asian sub-groups: Some Asians have done very well for themselves. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-wagner/few-politicians-and-analysts-understand-the-very-real-fault-lines/) [Alex Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-wagner/) > [My heritage is something that I have always been aware of, however, some would say that there is a disproportionately low number of Asians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-adrian/my-heritage-is-something-that-i-have-always-been-aware-of-however/) Nathan Adrian > [Asian players train so hard. Most of the time, on Monday mornings, the only people you see on the range are Asians. I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yani-tseng/asian-players-train-so-hard-most-of-the-time-on-monday-mornings-the/) [Yani Tseng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yani-tseng/) > [I feel like there's this need that the Asian-American community has to feel like people. It's something that Asians in Asia do not understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-feel-like-there-s-this-need-that-the-asian-american-community-has/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [When you go to the Hollywood world and you wade in the waters out there, you never know who you’re going to meet and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jericho/when-you-go-to-the-hollywood-world-and-you-wade-in-the-waters-out/) [Chris Jericho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jericho/) ## More by Eugene Lee Yang > [We have to express ourselves in the most true and authentic way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-lee-yang/we-have-to-express-ourselves-in-the-most-true-and-authentic-way/) [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) > [YouTube opened up the types of voices and alternative ways of viewing ourselves that would never have been greenlit by a Hollywood studio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-lee-yang/youtube-opened-up-the-types-of-voices-and-alternative-ways-of-viewing/) [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) > [A lot of times I go to a comedy show, I sit there and wait for the comedian to run out of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-lee-yang/a-lot-of-times-i-go-to-a-comedy-show-i-sit-there-and-wait-for-the/) [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) > [Some people just yell 'Asian BuzzFeed guy!' and I turn around and distinctly yell back 'Eugene!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-lee-yang/some-people-just-yell-asian-buzzfeed-guy-and-i-turn-around-and/) [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) > [There's a reason we all cried when Gina Rodriguez won that Golden Globe. It didn't matter if we're Latina. We get it. We're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-lee-yang/there-s-a-reason-we-all-cried-when-gina-rodriguez-won-that-golden/) [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) > [I think that there's a lot of different factors that played into the coming out process I've had with the public. You know, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-lee-yang/i-think-that-there-s-a-lot-of-different-factors-that-played-into-the/) [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) > [Even before BuzzFeed, Asian-American faces and voices were so prevalent online as huge YouTubers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-lee-yang/even-before-buzzfeed-asian-american-faces-and-voices-were-so/) [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) > [Digital content is it's own industry that is going through it's own growing pains as with any other industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-lee-yang/digital-content-is-it-s-own-industry-that-is-going-through-it-s-own/) [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) > [I think as you become a more open person and let others in, just in your regular life, you'll be surprised by how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-lee-yang/i-think-as-you-become-a-more-open-person-and-let-others-in-just-in/) [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) > [I really did hate who I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-lee-yang/i-really-did-hate-who-i-was/) [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) > [I'm most concerned with committing to characters that contribute to more complex, modern and dynamic Asian-American representation on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-lee-yang/i-m-most-concerned-with-committing-to-characters-that-contribute-to/) [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) > [Growing up in Texas, I was already dealing with the fact that I didn't even know I was Asian until a certain age. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-lee-yang/growing-up-in-texas-i-was-already-dealing-with-the-fact-that-i-didn-t/) [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) > [We have the right to be angry about our representation in the media. It's just not a reflection of how we live our daily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-lee-yang/we-have-the-right-to-be-angry-about-our-representation-in-the-media/) [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) > [Content isn't just a brand or message that you develop yourself and then throw out into the echo chamber. It's a mirror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-lee-yang/content-isn-t-just-a-brand-or-message-that-you-develop-yourself-and/) [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) > [My job is literally clapping back every day online as a comedian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-lee-yang/my-job-is-literally-clapping-back-every-day-online-as-a-comedian/) [Eugene Lee Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) [Explore all 31 Eugene Lee Yang quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-lee-yang/) ## More Asian quotes > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? 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But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [When you are in America, at least for me, as an immigrant, I try to be as Americanized as I could. I just want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/when-you-are-in-america-at-least-for-me-as-an-immigrant-i-try-to-be/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [I always tell Asian actors, especially Filipinos wanting to break into Hollywood, to study, study and study and show their best. I haven't stopped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-lee/i-always-tell-asian-actors-especially-filipinos-wanting-to-break-into/) [Reggie Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-lee/) > [The narrative needs to change. Asian-American actresses don't want to be the damsels in distress anymore. We don't want to be saved, especially by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-chung/the-narrative-needs-to-change-asian-american-actresses-don-t-want-to/) [Jamie Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-chung/) > [It's always fun to see faces that are either familiar or resemble yours. I was fascinated by movies like 'Big Trouble in Little China'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-chin-han/it-s-always-fun-to-see-faces-that-are-either-familiar-or-resemble/) [Ng Chin Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-chin-han/) > [In view of China's growing military strength and intentions, the best way to safeguard Asia's permanent peace and prosperity is to have all Asian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-costa/in-view-of-china-s-growing-military-strength-and-intentions-the-best/) [Jim Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-costa/) > [I think Li Na and some other Chinese ladies have done so many amazing things for Asian tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kei-nishikori/i-think-li-na-and-some-other-chinese-ladies-have-done-so-many-amazing/) [Kei Nishikori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kei-nishikori/) > [I don't want to have people brought in simply because they are black or Asian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-phillips/i-don-t-want-to-have-people-brought-in-simply-because-they-are-black/) [Trevor Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-phillips/) > [We grew up in rural Arkansas without any Koreans close by, and when I go to Korea feel out of place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-isaac-chung/we-grew-up-in-rural-arkansas-without-any-koreans-close-by-and-when-i/) [Lee Isaac Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-isaac-chung/) > [I've been lucky to come up when there's such a huge explosion of women, and especially Asian women, in music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-zauner/i-ve-been-lucky-to-come-up-when-there-s-such-a-huge-explosion-of/) [Michelle Zauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-zauner/) > [I knew I was half Chinese, but Iceland is so homogenous that I wasn't able to identify with the Asian part of myself. 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