--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's probably more of a struggle to…" description: "\"There's probably more of a struggle to get material and narratives published that really speak to black culture. And that has a lot to do with the merg..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/jerry-pinkney-22586_african-american_there-s-probably-more-of-a-struggle-to-g_1561201.jpg" --- # There's probably more of a struggle to get material and… ![“There's probably more of a struggle to get material and narratives published that really speak to black culture. And that has a lot to do with the mergers and buyouts and the corporations being more in control of the purse strings. We find that the projects have to come with higher expectations…” quote by Jerry Pinkney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/jerry-pinkney-22586_african-american_there-s-probably-more-of-a-struggle-to-g_1561201.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/jerry-pinkney-22586_african-american_there-s-probably-more-of-a-struggle-to-g_1561201.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/jerry-pinkney-22586_african-american_there-s-probably-more-of-a-struggle-to-g_1561201.jpg) > “There's probably more of a struggle to get material and narratives published that really speak to black culture. And that has a lot to do with the mergers and buyouts and the corporations being more in control of the purse strings. We find that the projects have to come with higher expectations rather than books that just should be published. That's disturbing because we might find fewer and fewer children's books by African Americans or with black cultural themes.” [Jerry Pinkney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pinkney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The publishing industry’s corporate control raises expectations, limiting opportunities for Black children's books and cultural representation. **In simple terms:** Corporate pressures limit Black cultural publishing. Key Takeaway Advocate for diverse, low‑pressure publishing. Themes publishing representation corporate control culture children’s literature Mood concerned determined hopeful Type social activist practical When to use this quote - author outreach - independent presses - community fundraising - educational programs Key Concepts media economics cultural equity systemic bias Questions to Reflect On - How can independent platforms support Black authors? - What policies could reduce corporate gatekeeping? A Different Perspective Higher expectations may marginalize authentic voices further. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [African americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-americans/) [Black culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-culture/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children 's books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-s-books/) [Children'S Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-s-books-2/) [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Higher Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-expectations/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) ## Related quotes > [I'm very proud to be black, but black is not all I am. That's my cultural historical background, my genetic make-up, but it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-m-very-proud-to-be-black-but-black-is-not-all-i-am-that-s-my/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I read a lot of biographies and books with an African background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-smith/i-read-a-lot-of-biographies-and-books-with-an-african-background/) [Wilbur Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-smith/) > [The first major issue you need to consider when focusing on today's workers: You have to know what motivates them. If you think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-rottenberg/the-first-major-issue-you-need-to-consider-when-focusing-on-today-s/) [Linda Rottenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-rottenberg/) > [You can NEVER rise higher than your expectations of yourself. Expect the BEST!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/you-can-never-rise-higher-than-your-expectations-of-yourself-expect/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I get higher than expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/i-get-higher-than-expectations/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [“All these much-celebrated choices that we have, apparently, us modern women. There are no choices, only higher expectations. Except”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-furniss/all-these-much-celebrated-choices-that-we-have-apparently-us-modern/) [Jo Furniss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-furniss/) > [This is UCLA. The expectations are higher here than anywhere. The amount of success both in terms of championships and wins as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-howland/this-is-ucla-the-expectations-are-higher-here-than-anywhere-the/) [Ben Howland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-howland/) > [No one puts higher expectations on themselves than I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/no-one-puts-higher-expectations-on-themselves-than-i-do/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [The days that I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations, I have really good days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-wylie-hubbard/the-days-that-i-keep-my-gratitude-higher-than-my-expectations-i-have/) [Ray Wylie Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-wylie-hubbard/) > [At the end of the day, nobody has higher expectations for me than myself. I don't really try to prove anyone wrong anymore as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mccaffrey/at-the-end-of-the-day-nobody-has-higher-expectations-for-me-than/) [Christian McCaffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mccaffrey/) > [Great teachers have high expectations for their students, but higher expectations for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-whitaker/great-teachers-have-high-expectations-for-their-students-but-higher/) Todd Whitaker > [“Many black and poor people, moreover, had become politicized by the civil rights movement and had begun to develop higher expectations from life. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-patterson/many-black-and-poor-people-moreover-had-become-politicized-by-the/) [James T. Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-patterson/) > [There is no one with higher expectations of me than myself. I cannot control other's expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kasper-schmeichel/there-is-no-one-with-higher-expectations-of-me-than-myself-i-cannot/) [Kasper Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kasper-schmeichel/) > [“Numbers of men are getting richer and greater numbers are getting poorer. Alas, both classes have higher expectations these days. In Short, sir, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-unsworth/numbers-of-men-are-getting-richer-and-greater-numbers-are-getting/) [Barry Unsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-unsworth/) > [This truth remains: Only those you care about can hurt you. You expect more from them-after all, you've given more of yourself to them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bevere/this-truth-remains-only-those-you-care-about-can-hurt-you-you-expect/) [John Bevere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bevere/) ## More by Jerry Pinkney > [Receiving both the Coretta Scott King - Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award suggests I have succeeded, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pinkney/receiving-both-the-coretta-scott-king-virginia-hamilton-award-for/) [Jerry Pinkney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pinkney/) > [“…this story offers far more than a simple moral of how the meek can trump the mighty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pinkney/this-story-offers-far-more-than-a-simple-moral-of-how-the-meek-can/) [Jerry Pinkney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pinkney/) > [Drawing creates its own kind of private space. 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So, if I want to learn more about plantation life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pinkney/the-process-of-creating-art-allows-me-to-learn-about-the-subject-i-m/) [Jerry Pinkney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pinkney/) > [Part of what I'm doing with generations is that I try to express in my work pieces of my growing up years that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pinkney/part-of-what-i-m-doing-with-generations-is-that-i-try-to-express-in/) [Jerry Pinkney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pinkney/) > [I never demonstrate how art should be made or what the outcome should look like. Instead, give kids the tools and the materials to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pinkney/i-never-demonstrate-how-art-should-be-made-or-what-the-outcome-should/) [Jerry Pinkney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pinkney/) > [I try not to respond with a pep talk, such as, "Everyone has talent, just try, you'll see." I skirt those kinds of answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pinkney/i-try-not-to-respond-with-a-pep-talk-such-as-everyone-has-talent-just/) [Jerry Pinkney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pinkney/) > [I feel the calmest when I'm drawing or when I'm creating images. I love connecting the mind with the hand and producing something -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pinkney/i-feel-the-calmest-when-i-m-drawing-or-when-i-m-creating-images-i/) [Jerry Pinkney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pinkney/) > [If you do the best work you can, the reward is ultimately your self-satisfaction - the sense that you have done the best you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pinkney/if-you-do-the-best-work-you-can-the-reward-is-ultimately-your-self/) [Jerry Pinkney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pinkney/) > [A sense of community has always been important to me. I understood very early that I could not grow as an artist or as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pinkney/a-sense-of-community-has-always-been-important-to-me-i-understood/) [Jerry Pinkney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pinkney/) [Explore all 27 Jerry Pinkney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pinkney/) ## 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. 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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. 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