--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have a tendency in this country that…" description: "\"We have a tendency in this country that when we say Black it automatically means Black Americans. But that's a big mistake, and that keeps us divided. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/irene-cara-18117_big-mistake_we-have-a-tendency-in-this-country-that_2571583.jpg" --- # We have a tendency in this country that when we say Black… ![“We have a tendency in this country that when we say Black it automatically means Black Americans. But that's a big mistake, and that keeps us divided. There are Blacks all over this entire world-even in Africa.” quote by Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/irene-cara-18117_big-mistake_we-have-a-tendency-in-this-country-that_2571583.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/irene-cara-18117_big-mistake_we-have-a-tendency-in-this-country-that_2571583.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ca/irene-cara-18117_big-mistake_we-have-a-tendency-in-this-country-that_2571583.jpg) > “We have a tendency in this country that when we say Black it automatically means Black Americans. But that's a big mistake, and that keeps us divided. There are Blacks all over this entire world-even in Africa.” [Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The term “Black” is often narrowly applied, causing division and ignoring global diversity **In simple terms:** Avoid conflating race with nationality to reduce division Key Takeaway Recognize the worldwide diversity of Black identities Themes identity diversity inclusion Mood reflective concerned Type social educational When to use this quote - education - media representation - personal conversations Key Concepts race theory global perspective Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape our view of race? - What steps can you take to broaden your perspective? A Different Perspective Stereotypes persist despite awareness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-mistake/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-americans/) [Blacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blacks/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Divided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divided/) [Divided Blacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divided-blacks-1696989/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Means Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-black-303871/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Say Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-black-548746/) [Tendencies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tendencies/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Part-black generally means all-black in Americans' minds. Just as part-Asian or part-Hispanic or part-anything-else usually puts individuals in those minority-groups' camps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/part-black-generally-means-all-black-in-americans-minds-just-as-part/) [Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/) > [“Oh Maker, what did they really say about your black creation? I think you made a beautiful work of art on a canvass of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinonye-j-chidolue/oh-maker-what-did-they-really-say-about-your-black-creation-i-think/) [Chinonye J. Chidolue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinonye-j-chidolue/) > [“Since neither black animosity nor the Left’s falsehood of “racial tensions” is based on the actual behavior of the vast majority of white Americans,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/since-neither-black-animosity-nor-the-left-s-falsehood-of-racial/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [“I thought about how Juneteenth is a holiday that inspires so much celebration, born from circumstances imbued with so much tragedy. Enslavers in Texas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-smith/i-thought-about-how-juneteenth-is-a-holiday-that-inspires-so-much/) [Clint Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-smith/) > [In 1975 I was among a group of blacks who formed the Black Americans in Support of Israel Committee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dinkins/in-1975-i-was-among-a-group-of-blacks-who-formed-the-black-americans/) [David Dinkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dinkins/) > [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/) > [While violence is part of what it means to be part of the black diaspora in the United States, that is not all it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-smith/while-violence-is-part-of-what-it-means-to-be-part-of-the-black/) [Clint Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-smith/) > [To most white people, jazz means black and jazz means dirt, and that's not what I play. I play black classical music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/to-most-white-people-jazz-means-black-and-jazz-means-dirt-and-that-s/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [There haven't been enough profound things written about what being black means and what a black character is. Nobody knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-earl-jones/there-haven-t-been-enough-profound-things-written-about-what-being/) [James Earl Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-earl-jones/) > [As a black person, I'm used to going to places in which I might be the only black person that shows up there. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/as-a-black-person-i-m-used-to-going-to-places-in-which-i-might-be-the/) [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) > [Hip Hop offers new ways of seeing and understanding what it means to be black at this pivotal time in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-boyd/hip-hop-offers-new-ways-of-seeing-and-understanding-what-it-means-to/) [Todd Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-boyd/) > [It means black kitten," I said with my pulse almost even again. Ares studied me. "And you're ok with them calling you their black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/it-means-black-kitten-i-said-with-my-pulse-almost-even-again-ares/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Today mass incarceration defines the meaning of blackness in America: Black people, especially black men, are criminals. That is what it means to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/today-mass-incarceration-defines-the-meaning-of-blackness-in-america/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [Fluidity means that our black identities are constantly changing as we respond to circumstances in our families and communities of origin, and as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/fluidity-means-that-our-black-identities-are-constantly-changing-as/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“You know what Black means? BLACK means Brave, BLACK means Leaderly, BLACK means Adventurous, BLACK means Considerate, BLACK means Kind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/you-know-what-black-means-black-means-brave-black-means-leaderly/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) ## More by Irene Cara > [When I act, I act. When I sing, I sing. I don't put one over the other. Entertaining is what I do best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-cara/when-i-act-i-act-when-i-sing-i-sing-i-don-t-put-one-over-the-other/) [Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) > [Your fear seems to hide deep inside your mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-cara/your-fear-seems-to-hide-deep-inside-your-mind/) [Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) > [I've had my bubblegum years and I did them well. Now it's time to come back as the woman, artist, and musician that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-cara/i-ve-had-my-bubblegum-years-and-i-did-them-well-now-it-s-time-to-come/) [Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) > [I had been performing since I was 5, so it wasn't like I hadn't been on a stage before. I was always older than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-cara/i-had-been-performing-since-i-was-5-so-it-wasn-t-like-i-hadn-t-been/) [Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) > [The situation is not good with the record companies. It's just not working out, so I don't plan to record until it's straightened out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-cara/the-situation-is-not-good-with-the-record-companies-it-s-just-not/) [Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) > [Take your passion and make it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-cara/take-your-passion-and-make-it-happen/) [Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) > [I'll never be that trusting again, believing accountants and lawyers have my best interests at heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-cara/i-ll-never-be-that-trusting-again-believing-accountants-and-lawyers/) [Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) > [My brother, Mario, is in show business and so are all my cousins on my dad's side. We come from a family of musicians.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-cara/my-brother-mario-is-in-show-business-and-so-are-all-my-cousins-on-my/) [Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) > [That first apartment was a big step. It has a lot to do with being independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-cara/that-first-apartment-was-a-big-step-it-has-a-lot-to-do-with-being/) [Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) > [I don't mean to sound immodest, but I never had any doubt that I'd be successful, nor any fear of success. I was raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-cara/i-don-t-mean-to-sound-immodest-but-i-never-had-any-doubt-that-i-d-be/) [Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) > [I didn't have to go to school, graduate and then go, What am I going to do? I knew from the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-cara/i-didn-t-have-to-go-to-school-graduate-and-then-go-what-am-i-going-to/) [Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) > [I refuse to let anybody try to typecast me. It's against my nature. I like to continually do different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-cara/i-refuse-to-let-anybody-try-to-typecast-me-it-s-against-my-nature-i/) [Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) > [If something isn't working out in one aspect of my career, it's not any big neurotic, crazy phase for me, it's just something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-cara/if-something-isn-t-working-out-in-one-aspect-of-my-career-it-s-not/) [Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) > [I play piano and write better than I can sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-cara/i-play-piano-and-write-better-than-i-can-sing/) [Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) > [Cara is not my real name, and I'm not going to tell you what it is. Only because I do live in New York…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-cara/cara-is-not-my-real-name-and-i-m-not-going-to-tell-you-what-it-is/) [Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) [Explore all 35 Irene Cara quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) ## More Big mistake quotes > [If loving you is a big mistake, I will never ever want to be right,i will always make the same mistake over and over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horla/if-loving-you-is-a-big-mistake-i-will-never-ever-want-to-be-right-i/) [Horla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horla/) > [“You never talk to the pitcher when…” He shook his head. “You just never talk to the pitcher when--” “I just wanted to congratulate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawthorne/you-never-talk-to-the-pitcher-when-he-shook-his-head-you-just-never/) [Rachel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawthorne/) > [My first big mistake was made when, in a moment of weakness, I consented to learn the game; for a man who can frankly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/my-first-big-mistake-was-made-when-in-a-moment-of-weakness-i/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [If you don't make mistakes, you're not working on hard enough problems. And that's a big mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-wikzek/if-you-don-t-make-mistakes-you-re-not-working-on-hard-enough-problems/) [F Wikzek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-wikzek/) > [“Hitler made only one big mistake when he built his Atlantic Wall,” the paratroopers liked to say. “He forgot to put a roof on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-e-ambrose/hitler-made-only-one-big-mistake-when-he-built-his-atlantic-wall-the/) [Stephen E. Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-e-ambrose/) > [Well I think its safe to say this week has been the worst week EVER I never I never thought I could get so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talyiah/well-i-think-its-safe-to-say-this-week-has-been-the-worst-week-ever-i/) [Talyiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talyiah/) > [One of the big mistakes Republicans made with the Contract with America is that they tried to do too much too fast, and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/one-of-the-big-mistakes-republicans-made-with-the-contract-with/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [The press keep asking me, 'What was your biggest mistake?' But if I had made a big mistake, they'd all be writing about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/the-press-keep-asking-me-what-was-your-biggest-mistake-but-if-i-had/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [We have to keep trying things we're not sure we can pull off. If we just do the things we know we can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/we-have-to-keep-trying-things-we-re-not-sure-we-can-pull-off-if-we/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [“God figured out when he separated us from the rest of the creatures that if we have the power to reason and justify and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-uris/god-figured-out-when-he-separated-us-from-the-rest-of-the-creatures/) [Leon Uris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-uris/) > [Taking me seriously is a big mistake. I certainly wouldn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/taking-me-seriously-is-a-big-mistake-i-certainly-wouldn-t/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [I've lived so little that I tend to imagine I'm not going to die; it seems improbable that human existence can be reduced to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-houellebecq/i-ve-lived-so-little-that-i-tend-to-imagine-i-m-not-going-to-die-it/) [Michel Houellebecq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-houellebecq/) > [One big mistake that we made in Delhi is that we made it a low-rise city which means that rich people have nice green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-banerjee/one-big-mistake-that-we-made-in-delhi-is-that-we-made-it-a-low-rise/) [Abhijit Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-banerjee/) > [The feeling of being deceived, completely betrayed by someone so close to your clueless heart. You tell them everything, all the emotions and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-feeling-of-being-deceived-completely-betrayed-by-someone-so-close/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Gift of Gab She continued by saying, “Many people dismiss small talk as being a waste of time. If you think small talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/the-gift-of-gab-she-continued-by-saying-many-people-dismiss-small/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) [Browse all 285 Big mistake quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-mistake/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We have a tendency in this country that when we say Black it automatically means Black Americans. But that's a big mistake, and that keeps us divided. 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