--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I find that people today tend to use them…" description: "\"I find that people today tend to use them interchangeably. I use African-American, because I teach African Studies as well as African-American Studies,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/henry-louis-gates-2372_african-american_i-find-that-people-today-tend-to-use-the_2501358.jpg" --- # I find that people today tend to use them interchangeably… ![“I find that people today tend to use them interchangeably. I use African-American, because I teach African Studies as well as African-American Studies, so it's easy, neat and convenient. But sometimes, when you're in a barber shop, somebody'll say, "Did you see what that Negro did?" A lot of…” quote by Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/henry-louis-gates-2372_african-american_i-find-that-people-today-tend-to-use-the_2501358.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/henry-louis-gates-2372_african-american_i-find-that-people-today-tend-to-use-the_2501358.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef7/henry-louis-gates-2372_african-american_i-find-that-people-today-tend-to-use-the_2501358.jpg) > “I find that people today tend to use them interchangeably. I use African-American, because I teach African Studies as well as African-American Studies, so it's easy, neat and convenient. But sometimes, when you're in a barber shop, somebody'll say, "Did you see what that Negro did?" A lot of people slip in and out of different terms effortlessly, and I don't think the thought police should be on patrol.” [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that language terms for race should be flexible and not policed, emphasizing practical usage over ideological control. **In simple terms:** Use racial terms flexibly without over‑policing language. Key Takeaway Allow natural language variation. Themes language race identity politics Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - classroom teaching - public discourse - media commentary Key Concepts sociolinguistics cultural sensitivity Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape racial perception? - Should there be limits to casual racial terminology? A Different Perspective Over‑flexibility may obscure systemic bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [Barber shop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barber-shop/) [Barbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barbers/) [Convenient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convenient/) [Did Negro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-negro-1063505/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Interchangeably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interchangeably-1063504/) [Interchangeably Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interchangeably-use-1063503/) [Neat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neat/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Shops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shops/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Slips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slips/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Study](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/study/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thought police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-police/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Interchangeably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-interchangeably-1063502/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [I use African-American, because I teach African Studies as well as African-American Studies, so it's easy, neat and convenient. But sometimes, when you're in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/i-use-african-american-because-i-teach-african-studies-as-well-as/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [I like to call the difference between research and development. Some people use that interchangeably. They'll say R&D. They're two totally different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-rutan/i-like-to-call-the-difference-between-research-and-development-some/) [Burt Rutan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-rutan/) > [If the guy that writes you checks says cut your hair, off to the barber shop you go. That's that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-konerko/if-the-guy-that-writes-you-checks-says-cut-your-hair-off-to-the/) [Paul Konerko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-konerko/) > [“Mama made the coach stop at a barber shop around the corner from their house. 'Go in there,' she told Francie, 'and get your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/mama-made-the-coach-stop-at-a-barber-shop-around-the-corner-from/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [So I can go and let out everything that I feel about every bogus weekly cover, every single bogus skit, every single rumor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/so-i-can-go-and-let-out-everything-that-i-feel-about-every-bogus/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I bumped into Mike Epps in a barber shop. I was in the Warner Brothers studios trying to find my way for an audition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joivan-wade/i-bumped-into-mike-epps-in-a-barber-shop-i-was-in-the-warner-brothers/) [Joivan Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joivan-wade/) > [What is there of the divine in a load of brick? What ... in a barber shop? ... Much. All.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/what-is-there-of-the-divine-in-a-load-of-brick-what-in-a-barber-shop/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I don't have any beauty shop memories. I remember the barber shop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/i-don-t-have-any-beauty-shop-memories-i-remember-the-barber-shop/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [The problem with our churches today is that the lead pastor is some sissy boy who wears cardigan sweaters, has The Carpenters dialed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/the-problem-with-our-churches-today-is-that-the-lead-pastor-is-some/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [In the barber shop you start playing checkers, and eventually you want to learn how to play chess. The pieces look a little more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/in-the-barber-shop-you-start-playing-checkers-and-eventually-you-want/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [When's the last time you went into a barber shop and saw everyone there unconsious?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-heenan/when-s-the-last-time-you-went-into-a-barber-shop-and-saw-everyone/) [Bobby Heenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-heenan/) > [I was in the process of growing dreads, they were down to my lip. I could whip them back and forth. Then I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-burleson/i-was-in-the-process-of-growing-dreads-they-were-down-to-my-lip-i/) [Nate Burleson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-burleson/) > [I love the donors and we thank them, but it has to be that the guys in the barber shop, the lady at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/i-love-the-donors-and-we-thank-them-but-it-has-to-be-that-the-guys-in/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [Take your ass to the barber shop. Tell the barber that you're sick of looking like an asshole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-willis/take-your-ass-to-the-barber-shop-tell-the-barber-that-you-re-sick-of/) [Wesley Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-willis/) > [My primary school teacher once poured a bottle of curdled school milk forcefully down my throat. Then I threw it up all over her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-o-grady/my-primary-school-teacher-once-poured-a-bottle-of-curdled-school-milk/) [Paul O'Grady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-o-grady/) ## More by Henry Louis Gates > [In Ethiopia, the black people became Christians 1700 years ago, hundreds of years before Northern Europe turned to Christianity... And here, most of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/in-ethiopia-the-black-people-became-christians-1700-years-ago/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [I don't think the riots derailed the civil rights movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/i-don-t-think-the-riots-derailed-the-civil-rights-movement/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [Politicians will not put forth programs aimed at the problems of poor blacks while their turnout remains so low.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/politicians-will-not-put-forth-programs-aimed-at-the-problems-of-poor/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [I'm a tech geek. Whenever I read about something new, I think to myself, How can I take this and make it black?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/i-m-a-tech-geek-whenever-i-read-about-something-new-i-think-to-myself/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [I think that the implication of King's assassination has not been fully appreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/i-think-that-the-implication-of-king-s-assassination-has-not-been/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [I want to be remembered as someone who tried to bring the story of our ancestors to the broadest possible audience. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/i-want-to-be-remembered-as-someone-who-tried-to-bring-the-story-of/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [In 1957, when I was in second grade, black children integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. We watched it on TV. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/in-1957-when-i-was-in-second-grade-black-children-integrated-central/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [Since the day Martin Luther King was killed, the black middle classes have almost quadrupled, but the percentage of black children living on or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/since-the-day-martin-luther-king-was-killed-the-black-middle-classes/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [Diversity doesn't mean black and white only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/diversity-doesn-t-mean-black-and-white-only/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [Because Lincoln is so closely identified with what it is to be American, everyone wants to claim him, to rewrite his story to satisfy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/because-lincoln-is-so-closely-identified-with-what-it-is-to-be/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [My grandfather was coloured, my father was Negro, and I am Black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/my-grandfather-was-coloured-my-father-was-negro-and-i-am-black/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [Wherever you go in the history of America, there have been Black people making contributions, but their contributions have been obscured, lost, buried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/wherever-you-go-in-the-history-of-america-there-have-been-black/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [The act of writing for the slave constituted the act of creating a public, historical self, not only the self of the individual author…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/the-act-of-writing-for-the-slave-constituted-the-act-of-creating-a/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [You can say I had a severe case of 'Roots' envy. I wanted to be like Alex Haley, and I wanted to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/you-can-say-i-had-a-severe-case-of-roots-envy-i-wanted-to-be-like/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [In America one drop of black ancestry makes you black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/in-america-one-drop-of-black-ancestry-makes-you-black/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) [Explore all 169 Henry Louis Gates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) ## More African american quotes > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [“This popularity extended to Trump himself, who, according to private demographic research conducted at the time, was even more popular with African American and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/this-popularity-extended-to-trump-himself-who-according-to-private/) [Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [I think it's easier for African American and white comics to be praised than it is Latinos because they think our culture or our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-think-it-s-easier-for-african-american-and-white-comics-to-be/) [George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/) > [“Alabama in 1927 alone, 27,701 men were arrested on misdemeanor charges and offered for sale by county sheriffs. In Blackmon’s estimation, “roughly half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-haney-l-pez/alabama-in-1927-alone-27-701-men-were-arrested-on-misdemeanor-charges/) [Ian Haney López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-haney-l-pez/) > [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) [Browse all 1,848 African american quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I find that people today tend to use them interchangeably. I use African-American, because I teach African Studies as well as African-American Studies, so it's easy, neat and convenient. 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