--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's so many, 'no, black people aren't…" description: "\"There's so many, 'no, black people aren't like that' barriers in mainstream media.\" — Issa Rae" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/issa-rae-11768_barriers_there-s-so-many-no-black-people-aren-t-l_269850.jpg" --- # There's so many, 'no, black people aren't like that'… ![“There's so many, 'no, black people aren't like that' barriers in mainstream media.” quote by Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/issa-rae-11768_barriers_there-s-so-many-no-black-people-aren-t-l_269850.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/issa-rae-11768_barriers_there-s-so-many-no-black-people-aren-t-l_269850.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/issa-rae-11768_barriers_there-s-so-many-no-black-people-aren-t-l_269850.jpg) > “There's so many, 'no, black people aren't like that' barriers in mainstream media.” [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 quote highlights pervasive stereotypes that portray Black people as monolithic, limiting representation in media. **In simple terms:** Stereotypes limit Black representation in media. Key Takeaway Challenge and narratives and demand diverse stories. Themes representation stereotypes media identity diversity Mood frustrated determined Type critical activist When to use this quote - film casting - advertising - news reporting - social media content Key Concepts social bias media studies intersectionality Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize and confront subtle stereotypes? - What platforms can amplify varied Black experiences? A Different Perspective Stereotypes persist despite growing awareness and activism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barriers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barriers/) [Black people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-people/) [Mainstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mainstream/) [Mainstream media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mainstream-media/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Black and awkward is the worst, because black people are stereotyped as being anything but awkward in mainstream media... Black people are always portrayed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/black-and-awkward-is-the-worst-because-black-people-are-stereotyped/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [But, yeah, as far as Asian Americans go, I hope they know they can look at me and see that they can do music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-iha/but-yeah-as-far-as-asian-americans-go-i-hope-they-know-they-can-look/) [James Iha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-iha/) > [I don't think the mainstream media understands people of color are multidimensional. For some reason, there's an idea that only white people are relatable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-don-t-think-the-mainstream-media-understands-people-of-color-are/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) > [Jazz is like a big secret club. The mainstream media doesn't pay any attention to it, it's like 1 percent of the music market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-glasper/jazz-is-like-a-big-secret-club-the-mainstream-media-doesn-t-pay-any/) [Robert Glasper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-glasper/) > [When you see a culture where the intellectual architects of the invasion are not shamed for their behavior but rewarded within the mainstream media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cusack/when-you-see-a-culture-where-the-intellectual-architects-of-the/) [John Cusack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cusack/) > [The behavior of the Occupy Wall Street protesters has raised some curious questions about the continuing double standards in our society. When it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-glazov/the-behavior-of-the-occupy-wall-street-protesters-has-raised-some/) [Jamie Glazov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-glazov/) > [I don’t see it in terms of changing things, but rather using language and music as weapons for fighting a mainstream media which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-don-t-see-it-in-terms-of-changing-things-but-rather-using-language/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [During the run up to the Iraq War, Mike Farrell and I did get on television kind of frequently, but then they saw that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cromwell/during-the-run-up-to-the-iraq-war-mike-farrell-and-i-did-get-on/) [James Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cromwell/) > [Since the 1960s, mainstream media has searched out and co-opted the most authentic things it could find in youth culture, whether that was psychedelic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/since-the-1960s-mainstream-media-has-searched-out-and-co-opted-the/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) > [Yes, the mainstream media is painfully biased.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedediah-bila/yes-the-mainstream-media-is-painfully-biased/) [Jedediah Bila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedediah-bila/) > [I do find that the mainstream media oftentimes is what I would consider off base or has a bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-do-find-that-the-mainstream-media-oftentimes-is-what-i-would/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I have really strong feelings about sex scenes in movies. I care a lot about sexuality and how it's depicted in mainstream media, period,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desiree-akhavan/i-have-really-strong-feelings-about-sex-scenes-in-movies-i-care-a-lot/) [Desiree Akhavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desiree-akhavan/) > [The counterculture has nothing to do with Dolce & Gabbana having a 'Hippy Summer' or something. Street kids, and kids who want to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-robinson/the-counterculture-has-nothing-to-do-with-dolce-gabbana-having-a/) [Chris Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-robinson/) > [Primarily affecting low-information voters and members of the mainstream media, Obama Worship Syndrome attributes impossible capabilities to Obama's political opponents, finds excuses for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/primarily-affecting-low-information-voters-and-members-of-the/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [If you're working on better conditions for prisoners, if you make that a popular issue and you invite mainstream media to weigh in on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/if-you-re-working-on-better-conditions-for-prisoners-if-you-make-that/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) ## 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. 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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/) > [I would love 'Awkward Black Girl' to be on television, with the right team of people who understand and get it. If 'Awkward Black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/i-would-love-awkward-black-girl-to-be-on-television-with-the-right/) [Issa Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) [Explore all 58 Issa Rae quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/) ## More Barriers quotes > [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The gear you can't afford is not the barrier keeping you from success. 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First we manufacture indigent and superfluous people by legal monopolies in land, money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurance-labadie/the-health-education-and-welfare-section-of-government-is-another/) [Laurance Labadie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurance-labadie/) > [Security is a component of everyday life that one spending time in Washington, D.C., gets accustomed to. Metal detectors, police vehicle barriers and heavily-armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-crapo/security-is-a-component-of-everyday-life-that-one-spending-time-in/) [Mike Crapo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-crapo/) > [The biggest obstacles to our progress exist within our own lives in the form of cowardice and the tendency to give up. Breaking through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/the-biggest-obstacles-to-our-progress-exist-within-our-own-lives-in/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [I feel that there are a few things in the world without cultural barriers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/i-feel-that-there-are-a-few-things-in-the-world-without-cultural/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [English literature is a glorious inheritance which is open to all - there are no barriers, no coupons, and no restrictions. In the English…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/english-literature-is-a-glorious-inheritance-which-is-open-to-all/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I've cosponsored legislation to establish a lend-lease program to simplify bureaucratic barriers and allow a speedier transfer of U.S. military equipment to Ukraine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/i-ve-cosponsored-legislation-to-establish-a-lend-lease-program-to/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [Don't be afraid of what you want. This is your time. The barriers are down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/don-t-be-afraid-of-what-you-want-this-is-your-time-the-barriers-are/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [Fear is the single biggest barrier to creativity. Unless we're brave enough to risk looking foolish, we'll inevitably find ourselves sticking to the status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-linkner/fear-is-the-single-biggest-barrier-to-creativity-unless-we-re-brave/) [Josh Linkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-linkner/) > [He looked at my lips. I suddenly found myself wanting to lick his. 'Yes,' he replied, his eyes going molten. My breath caught in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-macalister/he-looked-at-my-lips-i-suddenly-found-myself-wanting-to-lick-his-yes/) [Katie MacAlister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-macalister/) > [What do you have to surrender? A drop has to dissolve into the ocean to become the ocean. 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Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-w-johnson/) [Browse all 1,191 Barriers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barriers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's so many, 'no, black people aren't like that' barriers in mainstream media.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Issa Rae" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/there-s-so-many-no-black-people-aren-t-like-that-barriers-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Barriers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/there-s-so-many-no-black-people-aren-t-like-that-barriers-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/issa-rae-11768_barriers_there-s-so-many-no-black-people-aren-t-l_269850.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/issa-rae-11768_barriers_there-s-so-many-no-black-people-aren-t-l_269850.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/17d/issa-rae-11768_barriers_there-s-so-many-no-black-people-aren-t-l_269850.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There's so many, 'no, black people aren't like that' barriers in mainstream media.” — Issa Rae", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Issa Rae", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issa-rae/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There's so many, 'no, black people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/there-s-so-many-no-black-people-aren-t-like-that-barriers-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issa-rae/there-s-so-many-no-black-people-aren-t-like-that-barriers-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```