--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Educated black women are too high…" description: "\"“Educated black women are too high maintenance, high strung, and independent—they don’t need men. There is a widening gap between the education of blac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/issa-rae-11768_black-women_educated-black-women-are-too-high-mainte_3090306.jpg" --- # Educated black women are too high maintenance, high… ![“Educated black women are too high maintenance, high strung, and independent—they don’t need men. There is a widening gap between the education of black women and men, which doesn’t leave very many “suitable” suitors. Unfortunately, the higher one’s degree, as a black woman, the lower your chances…” quote by Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/issa-rae-11768_black-women_educated-black-women-are-too-high-mainte_3090306.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/issa-rae-11768_black-women_educated-black-women-are-too-high-mainte_3090306.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/issa-rae-11768_black-women_educated-black-women-are-too-high-mainte_3090306.jpg) > ““Educated black women are too high maintenance, high strung, and independent—they don’t need men. There is a widening gap between the education of black women and men, which doesn’t leave very many “suitable” suitors. Unfortunately, the higher one’s degree, as a black woman, the lower your chances are of getting married. Add to the con pile the stereotypes of being loud, complicated, and difficult. Black women, your reputation sucks. Asian”” [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highly educated Black women face stereotypes and a limited marriage market, leading to social pressure and negative reputation. **In simple terms:** Black women with degrees struggle with marriage expectations. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge harmful stereotypes. Themes gender race education marriage stereotypes Mood frustrated reflective Type social commentary personal narrative When to use this quote - dating - career planning - community support - mental health advocacy Key Concepts intersectionality social expectations reputation Questions to Reflect On - How do stereotypes shape personal choices? - What can communities do to support educated Black women? A Different Perspective Stereotypes can be deeply ingrained and may affect self-esteem. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-woman-238023/) [Black women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-women/) [Degree Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degree-black-1847830/) [Educated Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educated-black-858427/) [Education Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-black-5310650/) [Getting married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-married/) [High maintenance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-maintenance/) [High strung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-strung/) ## Related quotes > [“I am an educated black woman in a time when educated black people will be called upon to risk everything for the rights of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-dare-pearce/i-am-an-educated-black-woman-in-a-time-when-educated-black-people/) [Allan Dare Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-dare-pearce/) > [I started doing martial arts when I was about 7, and I got my second degree black belt when I was 19. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vandervoort/i-started-doing-martial-arts-when-i-was-about-7-and-i-got-my-second/) [Laura Vandervoort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vandervoort/) > [I have a second-degree black belt in Okinawan kobudo weapons training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/i-have-a-second-degree-black-belt-in-okinawan-kobudo-weapons-training/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [I was awarded a second-degree black belt in jiu-jitsu by Rigan Machado.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-barnett/i-was-awarded-a-second-degree-black-belt-in-jiu-jitsu-by-rigan-machado/) [Josh Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-barnett/) > [I grew up doing martial arts, and I'm a second-degree black belt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-vandervoort/i-grew-up-doing-martial-arts-and-i-m-a-second-degree-black-belt/) [Laura Vandervoort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-vandervoort/) > [I am for Obama, all the way. I don't support Obama just because he is a black man; I support him because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-yayo/i-am-for-obama-all-the-way-i-don-t-support-obama-just-because-he-is-a/) [Tony Yayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-yayo/) > [We are blessed to grow up in a country that is the world's leader. We are blessed to be some of the most well-educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/we-are-blessed-to-grow-up-in-a-country-that-is-the-world-s-leader-we/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [I am for Obama, all the way. I dont support Obama just because he is a black man; I support him because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-yayo/i-am-for-obama-all-the-way-i-dont-support-obama-just-because-he-is-a/) [Tony Yayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-yayo/) > [A well-educated black has a tremendous advantage over a well-educated white in terms of the job market. I think sometimes a black may think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/a-well-educated-black-has-a-tremendous-advantage-over-a-well-educated/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I would love to be a well-educated black, because I believe they do have an actual advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-would-love-to-be-a-well-educated-black-because-i-believe-they-do/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Single women that place high value on Higher Education are often the brunt of snide remarks and smearing put downs by less educated black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborrah-cooper/single-women-that-place-high-value-on-higher-education-are-often-the/) [Deborrah Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborrah-cooper/) > [“I needed to see more from my movies than the extremely tragic black woman, or the magic helpless Negro, or the many black men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-needed-to-see-more-from-my-movies-than-the-extremely-tragic-black/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [“There was a reason I was so into yoga. I was high-strung(news flash!).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-echols/there-was-a-reason-i-was-so-into-yoga-i-was-high-strung-news-flash/) [Jennifer Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-echols/) > [I'm wired to be neurotic and loud and high-strung.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-kirkman/i-m-wired-to-be-neurotic-and-loud-and-high-strung/) [Jen Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-kirkman/) > [A tall blonde entered the room, wearing a yellow sash that marked her as advocate. Two men followed her, carrying papers. She was lean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/a-tall-blonde-entered-the-room-wearing-a-yellow-sash-that-marked-her/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) ## More by Issa Rae > [It's a bit cliche, but you can't go wrong by writing what you know. Even if you're a horrible writer, your own knowledge and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/it-s-a-bit-cliche-but-you-can-t-go-wrong-by-writing-what-you-know/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [“I needed to see more from my movies than the extremely tragic black woman, or the magic helpless Negro, or the many black men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-needed-to-see-more-from-my-movies-than-the-extremely-tragic-black/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I'm transitioning to television and film, but ultimately, I want to have a stronger presence on the web and be able to curate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-transitioning-to-television-and-film-but-ultimately-i-want-to/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I really want to be the black Tina Fey, where I just am able to produce my own content and produce other content for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-really-want-to-be-the-black-tina-fey-where-i-just-am-able-to/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [The black characters on TV are the sidekicks, or they're insignificant. You could put all the black sidekicks on one show, and it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/the-black-characters-on-tv-are-the-sidekicks-or-they-re-insignificant/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [You know, you have a lot of people - I've met a lot of people in the past, I've gone to private schools, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/you-know-you-have-a-lot-of-people-i-ve-met-a-lot-of-people-in-the/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [There's so many, 'no, black people aren't like that' barriers in mainstream media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/there-s-so-many-no-black-people-aren-t-like-that-barriers-in/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I personally don't feel any pressure to make jokes about multiple baby-fathers and stereotypical black jokes, because one, that's just not my life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-personally-don-t-feel-any-pressure-to-make-jokes-about-multiple/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I'm a social media addict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-a-social-media-addict/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [Especially being a woman of color, sometimes it's hard for to put our foot down. You work with a lot of men, and they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/especially-being-a-woman-of-color-sometimes-it-s-hard-for-to-put-our/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [I'm always tempted to say, 'Nah, that won't work.' But I think you should be willing to try ideas out before saying no. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-m-always-tempted-to-say-nah-that-won-t-work-but-i-think-you-should/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [Every black film feels like it's Tyler Perry, and that just needs to stop. But people seem to slowly be looking for what else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/every-black-film-feels-like-it-s-tyler-perry-and-that-just-needs-to/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [“When I was a teenager, for example, others questioned my blackness because some of the life choices I made weren’t considered to be “black”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/when-i-was-a-teenager-for-example-others-questioned-my-blackness/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [Sometimes if I'm stuck on something, I'll have a drink, and it'll get me inspired and ready to keep going. But the trick to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/sometimes-if-i-m-stuck-on-something-i-ll-have-a-drink-and-it-ll-get/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [“In high school, I developed a new love: acting. I went to a predominantly black and Latino school in Compton and, outside of television,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/in-high-school-i-developed-a-new-love-acting-i-went-to-a/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) [Explore all 58 Issa Rae quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) ## More Black women quotes > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [Black women's intersectional experiences of racism and sexism have been a central but forgotten dynamic in the unfolding of feminist and antiracist agendas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/black-women-s-intersectional-experiences-of-racism-and-sexism-have/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [“As a Black Woman, I define self-care as the ability to safely and comfortably exhale.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethanee-epifani-j-bryant/as-a-black-woman-i-define-self-care-as-the-ability-to-safely-and/) [Bethanee Epifani J. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethanee-epifani-j-bryant/) > [When black women are down with you and in your corner, you have an ally that will move Heaven and Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/when-black-women-are-down-with-you-and-in-your-corner-you-have-an/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [ It wasn't \[Barack\] Obama per se; it was the feeling on the ground; it was seeing an old black woman in a wheelchair being… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the-feeling-on-the-ground-it-was/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [I talk about a lot is how black women are so often referred to as feisty or sassy or aggressive or difficult just for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vick-hope/i-talk-about-a-lot-is-how-black-women-are-so-often-referred-to-as/) [Vick Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vick-hope/) > [“I feel enormously blessed to be a successful black woman writer in this culture, but I have found my small fame, such as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-feel-enormously-blessed-to-be-a-successful-black-woman-writer-in/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [It's always hard for me to find a therapist who is a black woman or even a woman of color. It's something that we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/it-s-always-hard-for-me-to-find-a-therapist-who-is-a-black-woman-or/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [“She’s an original! She doesn’t need to compete, copy, or envy other women. The confidence that’s within her won’t allow her to stoop that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-lahart/she-s-an-original-she-doesn-t-need-to-compete-copy-or-envy-other/) [Stephanie Lahart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-lahart/) > [It is a dangerous time to be a black woman in America. It’s a time when we are not safe in the streets or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-cleage/it-is-a-dangerous-time-to-be-a-black-woman-in-america-it-s-a-time/) [Pearl Cleage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-cleage/) > [Black women don't have the same body image problems as white women. They are proud of their bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/black-women-don-t-have-the-same-body-image-problems-as-white-women/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [As long as black women yell about being independent, they will never get married. Marriage and independent is like oil and water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-long-as-black-women-yell-about-being-independent-they-will-never/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are enough negative images of Black women out there and I did not want to portray Dorothy Vaughn in any stereotype. I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-spencer/there-are-enough-negative-images-of-black-women-out-there-and-i-did/) [Octavia Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-spencer/) > [I write because I am a Black woman, listening attentively to her people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-write-because-i-am-a-black-woman-listening-attentively-to-her-people/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) [Browse all 676 Black women quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-women/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Educated black women are too high maintenance, high strung, and independent—they don’t need men. There is a widening gap between the education of black women and men, which doesn’t leave very many “suitable” suitors. Unfortunately, the higher one’s degree, as a black woman, the lower your chances are of getting married. 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