--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was always a struggle with being…" description: "\"There was always a struggle with being Asian and not being Asian enough. It's going to be down to me to own my race.\" — Henry Golding" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/henry-golding-6847_adversity_there-was-always-a-struggle-with-being-a_1130029.jpg" --- # There was always a struggle with being Asian and not being… ![“There was always a struggle with being Asian and not being Asian enough. It's going to be down to me to own my race.” quote by Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/henry-golding-6847_adversity_there-was-always-a-struggle-with-being-a_1130029.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/henry-golding-6847_adversity_there-was-always-a-struggle-with-being-a_1130029.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/henry-golding-6847_adversity_there-was-always-a-struggle-with-being-a_1130029.jpg) > “There was always a struggle with being Asian and not being Asian enough. It's going to be down to me to own my race.” [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identity can feel conflicted when cultural expectations clash with personal experience. **In simple terms:** Struggling with cultural identity. Key Takeaway Embrace and define your own cultural identity. Themes identity culture self acceptance Mood thoughtful determined Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - social gatherings - family events - career networking Key Concepts intersectionality belonging self‑definition Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile conflicting cultural expectations? - What does owning your race mean to you? A Different Perspective Identity labels can be limiting and may not capture personal nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) [Asian Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian-asian-3099344/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggle Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-asian-3099343/) ## Related quotes > [Even if you look at 'American Idol,' or 'X-Factor,' or 'The Voice' or anything, it was always difficult to see an Asian or an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/even-if-you-look-at-american-idol-or-x-factor-or-the-voice-or/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [When you're the only Asian in the room, the last thing you want to do is to point out you're Asian. And be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/when-you-re-the-only-asian-in-the-room-the-last-thing-you-want-to-do/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [Usually when you're Asian and you're on set, you're the only Asian there. Either you're the token Asian or you're the Asian sidekick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/usually-when-you-re-asian-and-you-re-on-set-you-re-the-only-asian/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [You can try to justify how Asian you are, but you're never going to make everybody happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/you-can-try-to-justify-how-asian-you-are-but-you-re-never-going-to/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [I was raised on Hong Kong movies with Asian stars, so I'm still learning about Hollywood underrepresenting certain people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/i-was-raised-on-hong-kong-movies-with-asian-stars-so-i-m-still/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [It was quite strange that people were saying I wasn't Asian enough. It's like, 'Oh, you're not Asian enough to play an Asian role.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/it-was-quite-strange-that-people-were-saying-i-wasn-t-asian-enough-it/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [You could say mixed-race Eurasians have the exact same struggles as a character like Rachel Chu has had: not feeling at home in supposedly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/you-could-say-mixed-race-eurasians-have-the-exact-same-struggles-as-a/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [I'm definitely more Asian than a lot of people who have never been to Asia. But by blood and by race, they instantly say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/i-m-definitely-more-asian-than-a-lot-of-people-who-have-never-been-to/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [The one thing that I learned very young was to own my identity. And, I knew, I'm Asian through and through. There's nothing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/the-one-thing-that-i-learned-very-young-was-to-own-my-identity-and-i/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [The fact is, I'm half-British, half-Malaysian. For an Asian who's grown up in America to be commenting on how Asian I am when they've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/the-fact-is-i-m-half-british-half-malaysian-for-an-asian-who-s-grown/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [I've lived so many different Asian cultures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/i-ve-lived-so-many-different-asian-cultures/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [Success is less interesting than struggle. There is great pleasure in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/success-is-less-interesting-than-struggle-there-is-great-pleasure-in/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) ## More by Henry Golding > [You can have Asians being leading men that are sex symbols. You can have leading women powering through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/you-can-have-asians-being-leading-men-that-are-sex-symbols-you-can/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [I've lived 16, 17 years of my life in Asia, and that's most of my life. I was born in Asia - I've lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/i-ve-lived-16-17-years-of-my-life-in-asia-and-that-s-most-of-my-life/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [Jon M. Chu is one of the most creative, convincing humans you'll ever meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/jon-m-chu-is-one-of-the-most-creative-convincing-humans-you-ll-ever/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [People look to cinema to spread the word and to tell these wonderful, outrageous stories or true-to-life documentaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/people-look-to-cinema-to-spread-the-word-and-to-tell-these-wonderful/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [We've all been that young love, trying to impress the in-laws or having these crazy cousins that we're related to by blood - we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/we-ve-all-been-that-young-love-trying-to-impress-the-in-laws-or/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [There's so many places, personally, that I would love as a film fan to explore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/there-s-so-many-places-personally-that-i-would-love-as-a-film-fan-to/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [I've lived so many different Asian cultures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/i-ve-lived-so-many-different-asian-cultures/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [I'm a big fan of old Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/i-m-a-big-fan-of-old-hollywood/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [I'm super confident in who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/i-m-super-confident-in-who-i-am/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [The fact is, I'm half-British, half-Malaysian. For an Asian who's grown up in America to be commenting on how Asian I am when they've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/the-fact-is-i-m-half-british-half-malaysian-for-an-asian-who-s-grown/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [A well-fitted suit is something that never goes wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/a-well-fitted-suit-is-something-that-never-goes-wrong/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [The one thing that I learned very young was to own my identity. And, I knew, I'm Asian through and through. There's nothing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/the-one-thing-that-i-learned-very-young-was-to-own-my-identity-and-i/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [Kids are ruthless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/kids-are-ruthless/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [I'm definitely more Asian than a lot of people who have never been to Asia. But by blood and by race, they instantly say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/i-m-definitely-more-asian-than-a-lot-of-people-who-have-never-been-to/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [The joy of tasting different cultures is it gives you a broad perspective, and you don't judge people from stereotypical characters you see in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/the-joy-of-tasting-different-cultures-is-it-gives-you-a-broad/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) [Explore all 97 Henry Golding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) [James Buckham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckham-kennedy/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) [S.E. SEVER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-sever/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There was always a struggle with being Asian and not being Asian enough. 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