--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's one thing when other…" description: "\"It's one thing when other African-Americans try to threaten my race card, but when people outside of my ethnicity have the audacity to question how 'do..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/issa-rae-11768_am_it-s-one-thing-when-other-african-americ_1963317.jpg" --- # It's one thing when other African-Americans try to… ![“It's one thing when other African-Americans try to threaten my race card, but when people outside of my ethnicity have the audacity to question how 'down' I am because of the bleak, stereotypical picture pop culture has painted for me as a black woman? Unacceptable.” quote by Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/issa-rae-11768_am_it-s-one-thing-when-other-african-americ_1963317.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/issa-rae-11768_am_it-s-one-thing-when-other-african-americ_1963317.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bb/issa-rae-11768_am_it-s-one-thing-when-other-african-americ_1963317.jpg) > “It's one thing when other African-Americans try to threaten my race card, but when people outside of my ethnicity have the audacity to question how 'down' I am because of the bleak, stereotypical picture pop culture has painted for me as a black woman? Unacceptable.” [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. The speaker rejects stereotypes that diminish her identity, demanding respect for her lived experience as a black woman. **In simple terms:** Reject stereotypes about black women. Key Takeaway Demand respect for authentic identity. Themes identity stereotypes respect Mood defiant hopeful Type critical inspirational When to use this quote - public speaking - media critique - education - policy advocacy Key Concepts racial politics media representation Questions to Reflect On - How can media portray black women more accurately? - What actions combat stereotypes? A Different Perspective Changing deep-seated stereotypes is slow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-americans/) [Audacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audacity/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Ethnicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethnicity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picture/) [Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pop/) [Pop culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pop-culture/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman/) ## Related quotes > [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 Christian-libertarian-environmentalist-capitalist-lunatic. It's a humorous way for me to describe that I'm not stereotypical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-salatin/i-m-a-christian-libertarian-environmentalist-capitalist-lunatic-it-s/) [Joel Salatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-salatin/) > [“Employment stereotypes you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/employment-stereotypes-you/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [I come from a dancing background, and I know it's stereotypical, but I would dance because I wasn't comfortable speaking to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-ann-inaba/i-come-from-a-dancing-background-and-i-know-it-s-stereotypical-but-i/) [Carrie Ann Inaba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-ann-inaba/) > [Your stereotypical L.A. Persian kids were not working at Sbarro pizza in the mall, but I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maz-jobrani/your-stereotypical-l-a-persian-kids-were-not-working-at-sbarro-pizza/) [Maz Jobrani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maz-jobrani/) > [My first reaction to being pigeonholed or pushed into certain confines is to be like, 'No, I'm the opposite,' you know? Like, don't put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelela/my-first-reaction-to-being-pigeonholed-or-pushed-into-certain/) [Kelela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelela/) > [I don't want to be that stereotypical black girl that's mad all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rico-nasty/i-don-t-want-to-be-that-stereotypical-black-girl-that-s-mad-all-the/) [Rico Nasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rico-nasty/) > [From the moment I could express myself, I acted like a stereotypical girl and insisted that I was a girl. I wasn't just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jazz-jennings/from-the-moment-i-could-express-myself-i-acted-like-a-stereotypical/) [Jazz Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jazz-jennings/) > [“Sophia Redgrave was obviously living in a world of stereotypical perceptions. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-angelo/sophia-redgrave-was-obviously-living-in-a-world-of-stereotypical/) Judy Angelo > [I don't know that the stereotypical idea of what it is to be a child of somebody hugely famous necessarily comes into play in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/i-don-t-know-that-the-stereotypical-idea-of-what-it-is-to-be-a-child/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > ['Crash' is a movie about the racial tension that still exists in America. A lot of us pretend that we don't have preconceived notions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larenz-tate/crash-is-a-movie-about-the-racial-tension-that-still-exists-in/) [Larenz Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larenz-tate/) > [I pretty much figured out in grade school that we weren't the stereotypical American family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-schauffele/i-pretty-much-figured-out-in-grade-school-that-we-weren-t-the/) [Xander Schauffele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-schauffele/) > [Filmmakers have role for everyone today. There are no stereotypical roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-dutta/filmmakers-have-role-for-everyone-today-there-are-no-stereotypical/) [Lara Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-dutta/) > [I have had a wide range of projects to choose from. That has saved me from donning a stereotypical image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanshu-chatterjee/i-have-had-a-wide-range-of-projects-to-choose-from-that-has-saved-me/) [Priyanshu Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanshu-chatterjee/) > [The majority of the roles I've played are women who have been either impoverished or subjugated in some way. So while I've been fortunate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/the-majority-of-the-roles-i-ve-played-are-women-who-have-been-either/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) ## 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 African americans quotes > [In a lot of movies, African-Americans are either maids or slaves, but that's not all they were. We need to show that. And we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-schroeder/in-a-lot-of-movies-african-americans-are-either-maids-or-slaves-but/) [Allison Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-schroeder/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [“He (Zerubavel) draws attention to the social influences on perception (what people notice), attention and concern (what people care about), classification (how people categorize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-griswold/he-zerubavel-draws-attention-to-the-social-influences-on-perception/) [Wendy Griswold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-griswold/) > [To those African-Americans suffering in our country, I say, what do you have to lose? Vote for Trump, I'm going to fix it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/to-those-african-americans-suffering-in-our-country-i-say-what-do-you/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Affirmative action was designed to recognize the uniquely difficult journey of African-Americans. This policy was justifiable and understandable, even to those who came from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-webb/affirmative-action-was-designed-to-recognize-the-uniquely-difficult/) [Jim Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-webb/) > [“The black officer checks Daddy while his partner glances around at all of the onlookers. There's quite a few of us now. Ms. Yvette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/the-black-officer-checks-daddy-while-his-partner-glances-around-at/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [African Americans are doing a lot already, but I think we have an opportunity right now to change politics in a way that will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckmann/african-americans-are-doing-a-lot-already-but-i-think-we-have-an/) [David Beckmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckmann/) > [The uncomfortable reality we must face is that California, like the nation as a whole, has treated generations of African Americans and Latinos as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/the-uncomfortable-reality-we-must-face-is-that-california-like-the/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [Since the nations founding, African Americans repeatedly have been controlled through institutions such as slavery and Jim Crow, which appear to die but then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/since-the-nations-founding-african-americans-repeatedly-have-been/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [You take a look at the history of African Americans in the US. There's been about thirty years of relative freedom. There was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/you-take-a-look-at-the-history-of-african-americans-in-the-us-there-s/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Michael Schultz's 'Cooley High' is a classic. Oftentimes, we don't get to see films about coming of age, especially for young African Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/michael-schultz-s-cooley-high-is-a-classic-oftentimes-we-don-t-get-to/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [As African-Americans, we don't start with a blank slate, while other people may. In our position, there's always some sort of stereotype that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-woods/as-african-americans-we-don-t-start-with-a-blank-slate-while-other/) [Xavier Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-woods/) [Browse all 593 African americans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-americans/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's one thing when other African-Americans try to threaten my race card, but when people outside of my ethnicity have the audacity to question how 'down' I am because of the bleak, stereotypical picture pop culture has painted for me as a black woman? 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