--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even though the agency kept me pretty…" description: "\"Even though the agency kept me pretty busy, I auditioned for every play and film I could find. But they all wanted a black American sound, and I just d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/grace-jones-3131_american_even-though-the-agency-kept-me-pretty-bu_2444916.jpg" --- # Even though the agency kept me pretty busy, I auditioned… ![“Even though the agency kept me pretty busy, I auditioned for every play and film I could find. But they all wanted a black American sound, and I just didn't have it. Finally, I got tired of trotting around and took myself to Paris.” quote by Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/grace-jones-3131_american_even-though-the-agency-kept-me-pretty-bu_2444916.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/grace-jones-3131_american_even-though-the-agency-kept-me-pretty-bu_2444916.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/842/grace-jones-3131_american_even-though-the-agency-kept-me-pretty-bu_2444916.jpg) > “Even though the agency kept me pretty busy, I auditioned for every play and film I could find. But they all wanted a black American sound, and I just didn't have it. Finally, I got tired of trotting around and took myself to Paris.” [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker struggled to fit industry expectations, felt limited by racial stereotypes, and ultimately left to find artistic freedom in Paris. **In simple terms:** Industry boxed her; she sought freedom abroad. Key Takeaway Pursue environments that honor your authentic voice. Themes identity artistic freedom race industry pressure migration Mood defiant hopeful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - career pivots - relocating for art - self‑advocacy - community building Key Concepts cultural criticism self‑determination creative autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What spaces support your true expression? - How can you influence change without leaving? A Different Perspective Leaving may not solve systemic bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [Auditioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditioned/) [Black American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-american/) [Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy/) [Busy Auditioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/busy-auditioned-519965/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tired/) [Took Paris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-paris-519966/) [Wanted Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-black-519967/) ## Related quotes > [I would willingly give fifty thousand crowns to be able to say that I took Paris without costing the life of one single man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-iv/i-would-willingly-give-fifty-thousand-crowns-to-be-able-to-say-that-i/) [Henry IV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-iv/) > [I took interest in Paris Hilton at one point and got fascinated with her voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-hval/i-took-interest-in-paris-hilton-at-one-point-and-got-fascinated-with/) [Jenny Hval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-hval/) > [I always wanted to have black nails, but I don't like polish so I use dye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-lamy/i-always-wanted-to-have-black-nails-but-i-don-t-like-polish-so-i-use/) [Michele Lamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-lamy/) > [ I probably also wanted to be black at that particular time \[ 9 years old\] as well. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-probably-also-wanted-to-be-black-at-that-particular-time-9-years/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I felt black. I was as far as I was concerned. And I wanted to be black for lots of reasons. They were better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-leiber/i-felt-black-i-was-as-far-as-i-was-concerned-and-i-wanted-to-be-black/) [Jerry Leiber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-leiber/) > [We wanted black power to be all things to all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleveland-sellers/we-wanted-black-power-to-be-all-things-to-all-people/) [Cleveland Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleveland-sellers/) > [I had very much wanted to be the very first black female editor-in-chief of 'Vogue.' Barring that, I wanted to work at 'Entertainment Weekly.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/i-had-very-much-wanted-to-be-the-very-first-black-female-editor-in/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [The needs of a society determine its ethics, and in the Black American ghettos the hero is that man who is offered only the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/the-needs-of-a-society-determine-its-ethics-and-in-the-black-american/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I think, all too often, this society has too monolithic a definition of what a black American is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzodinma-iweala/i-think-all-too-often-this-society-has-too-monolithic-a-definition-of/) [Uzodinma Iweala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzodinma-iweala/) > [I'm an African woman, I suppose these thoughts torture me more than they do black American people, because it's like watching my own children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kola-boof/i-m-an-african-woman-i-suppose-these-thoughts-torture-me-more-than/) [Kola Boof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kola-boof/) > [Schools don't teach American history that well, especially a lot of black American history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/schools-don-t-teach-american-history-that-well-especially-a-lot-of/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [For me going down in history being the first black American to win the gold, I think more colored people are going to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabby-douglas/for-me-going-down-in-history-being-the-first-black-american-to-win/) [Gabby Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabby-douglas/) > [We do not have an American culture. We have a white American culture and a black American culture. So when those two groups try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/we-do-not-have-an-american-culture-we-have-a-white-american-culture/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [There were certain expectations that were assumed of me as a young black American 20th-century - then 20th-century artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/there-were-certain-expectations-that-were-assumed-of-me-as-a-young/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [I was adopted my black Americans, I feel that I'm a 'Hybrid'. When I'm around Africans'I suddenly feel very black American. And when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kola-boof/i-was-adopted-my-black-americans-i-feel-that-i-m-a-hybrid-when-i-m/) [Kola Boof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kola-boof/) ## More by Grace Jones > [Human beings should stick together. Honestly, if I see a red-haired person with blue eyes now, I say, 'Is your granny black?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/human-beings-should-stick-together-honestly-if-i-see-a-red-haired/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [My dad's family were political and he was always a theatrical creature, whereas my mum is really musical and her father was the touring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/my-dad-s-family-were-political-and-he-was-always-a-theatrical/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [That's what they do in Argentina. Have a little wine and talk. Then have some coffee and talk. Then, go back to the wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/that-s-what-they-do-in-argentina-have-a-little-wine-and-talk-then/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [Survival is my primary instinct...it's out of my control. It's stronger than me. It's an outside force, a voice that says 'do this for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/survival-is-my-primary-instinct-it-s-out-of-my-control-it-s-stronger/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [This is depression, it comes when your blocking. This is expression it comes when you're rocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/this-is-depression-it-comes-when-your-blocking-this-is-expression-it/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [Growing up in Jamaica, the Pentecostal church wasn't that fiery thing you might think. It was very British, very proper. Hymns. No dancing. Very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/growing-up-in-jamaica-the-pentecostal-church-wasn-t-that-fiery-thing/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [I've had more misrepresentations than I can handle, and people have told the wickedest lies about me. A lot of them have taken their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/i-ve-had-more-misrepresentations-than-i-can-handle-and-people-have/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [There're lots of musicians in my family, too. My mother sings incredibly well. I've got to make a record with my mother's voice on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/there-re-lots-of-musicians-in-my-family-too-my-mother-sings/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [They used to call me Firefly when I was a little girl, and I always tried to figure out why I was being called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/they-used-to-call-me-firefly-when-i-was-a-little-girl-and-i-always/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [“I can't run out of different ideas. I am different. When can I run out of me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/i-can-t-run-out-of-different-ideas-i-am-different-when-can-i-run-out/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [I just go with the flow, I follow the yellow brick road. I don't know where it's going to lead me, but I follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/i-just-go-with-the-flow-i-follow-the-yellow-brick-road-i-don-t-know/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [I love women, but I've never had a relationship with a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/i-love-women-but-i-ve-never-had-a-relationship-with-a-woman/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [Rock n' roll can get quite overwhelming. You can get caught up in the cycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/rock-n-roll-can-get-quite-overwhelming-you-can-get-caught-up-in-the/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [Be like Sasha Fierce. Be like Miley Cyrus. Be like Rihanna. Be like Lady Gaga. Be like Rita Ora and Sia. Be like Madonna.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/be-like-sasha-fierce-be-like-miley-cyrus-be-like-rihanna-be-like-lady/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [ When you start in that \[model\] business the rules are imposed upon you, but when you stay in the business long enough the rules… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/when-you-start-in-that-model-business-the-rules-are-imposed-upon-you/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) [Explore all 138 Grace Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) [Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even though the agency kept me pretty busy, I auditioned for every play and film I could find. But they all wanted a black American sound, and I just didn't have it. 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