--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Within our own races we distinguish…" description: "\"“Within our own races we distinguish between the natural\" and \"unnatural\" people. But what if none of that really makes a difference? What if we are ju..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/joel-mciver-37097_black-white_within-our-own-races-we-distinguish-betw_1063578.jpg" --- # Within our own races we distinguish between the natural"… ![“Within our own races we distinguish between the natural" and "unnatural" people. But what if none of that really makes a difference? What if we are just black, white, Chinese, African, Native American; what if we're just all here to experience the consequences of our choices and judgements; and…” quote by Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/joel-mciver-37097_black-white_within-our-own-races-we-distinguish-betw_1063578.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/joel-mciver-37097_black-white_within-our-own-races-we-distinguish-betw_1063578.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/joel-mciver-37097_black-white_within-our-own-races-we-distinguish-betw_1063578.jpg) > ““Within our own races we distinguish between the natural" and "unnatural" people. But what if none of that really makes a difference? What if we are just black, white, Chinese, African, Native American; what if we're just all here to experience the consequences of our choices and judgements; and what if all this is put in front of us so that we can just all grow as individuals?... You were born by yourself and, when you go to the next level, you're gonna go by yourself. \[—Erykah Badu\]”” [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human distinctions blur; ultimately, we share a common experience and must grow individually. **In simple terms:** We are all alike despite superficial differences. Key Takeaway Focus on personal growth beyond labels. Themes identity humanity growth diversity Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - education - cross‑cultural dialogue Key Concepts philosophy existentialism social constructs Questions to Reflect On - How do societal structures influence personal growth? - Can we truly ignore cultural histories? A Different Perspective The view may overlook systemic inequities affecting individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black white](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-white/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/erykah-badu/) [Grow Individuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow-individuals-2610201/) [Individuals Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuals-born-1440580/) [Natural Unnatural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-unnatural-2414778/) [Next level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-level/) [Races Distinguish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/races-distinguish-2610202/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Unnatural People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unnatural-people-2290654/) ## Related quotes > [If individuals can be born again, why can't cities, made up of many individuals, be born again?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-wagner/if-individuals-can-be-born-again-why-can-t-cities-made-up-of-many/) [C. Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-wagner/) > [It's very unnatural to be someone for so many people. But of course it's very nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aurora/it-s-very-unnatural-to-be-someone-for-so-many-people-but-of-course-it/) [Aurora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aurora/) > [Female bodybuilding started out as a circus attraction, and I guess it still feels unnatural to some people, especially in a place that's more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/female-bodybuilding-started-out-as-a-circus-attraction-and-i-guess-it/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [“He's one of my best friends in the world, and from my plant it's OK for a boy and a girl to be good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/he-s-one-of-my-best-friends-in-the-world-and-from-my-plant-it-s-ok/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [“He's one of my best friends in the world, and from my planet its OK for a boy and a girl to be good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/he-s-one-of-my-best-friends-in-the-world-and-from-my-planet-its-ok/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [ “I wear my headwrap because because a headwrap is a crown, and I am a queen. \[—Erykah Badu\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/i-wear-my-headwrap-because-because-a-headwrap-is-a-crown-and-i-am-a/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [ “A lot of us carry that baggage... I urge people to pack light. \[...\] Romantic relationships where we were actually the ones who needed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/a-lot-of-us-carry-that-baggage-i-urge-people-to-pack-light-romantic/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [ “What good to your words do if they can't understand you? \[—Erykah Badu\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/what-good-to-your-words-do-if-they-can-t-understand-you-erykah-badu/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [“Sometimes I feel sorry for myself for some of the tougher things I've had to encounter in life, but other than that, I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/sometimes-i-feel-sorry-for-myself-for-some-of-the-tougher-things-i-ve/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [ “What good do your words do if they can't understand you? \[—Erykah Badu\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/what-good-do-your-words-do-if-they-can-t-understand-you-erykah-badu/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [When I was doing mainly music, I used to stick a microphone out the window, into the countryside, and create a live mix. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-calix/when-i-was-doing-mainly-music-i-used-to-stick-a-microphone-out-the/) [Mira Calix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-calix/) > [In contrast, markets - oft mythologized as "natural" are the most unnatural things going. Libertarians will tell you "market laws are laws of nature",…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/in-contrast-markets-oft-mythologized-as-natural-are-the-most/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) > [“What the Western World uses as a basis for “natural” and “unnatural” is not biology, but rather Christian theology.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fastreads/what-the-western-world-uses-as-a-basis-for-natural-and-unnatural-is/) [FastReads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fastreads/) > [“Whatever is biologically possible is natural. There are no “unnatural” behaviors, only culturally forbidden ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fastreads/whatever-is-biologically-possible-is-natural-there-are-no-unnatural/) [FastReads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fastreads/) > [Things don't ever stay the same. Natural beginnings come to natural or unnatural ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/things-don-t-ever-stay-the-same-natural-beginnings-come-to-natural-or/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) ## More by Joel McIver > [“He's one of my best friends in the world, and from my plant it's OK for a boy and a girl to be good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/he-s-one-of-my-best-friends-in-the-world-and-from-my-plant-it-s-ok/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [ “What good do your words do if they can't understand you? \[—Erykah Badu\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/what-good-do-your-words-do-if-they-can-t-understand-you-erykah-badu/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [ “What good to your words do if they can't understand you? \[—Erykah Badu\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/what-good-to-your-words-do-if-they-can-t-understand-you-erykah-badu/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [“Sometimes I feel sorry for myself for some of the tougher things I've had to encounter in life, but other than that, I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/sometimes-i-feel-sorry-for-myself-for-some-of-the-tougher-things-i-ve/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [My style is neither casual nor academic, it's somewhere in between. For me, that's the best way to be succinct and informative but still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/my-style-is-neither-casual-nor-academic-it-s-somewhere-in-between-for/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [I'd always thought that heavy metal - what I knew of it, anyway - was for tragic losers with acne and inch-thick glasses who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/i-d-always-thought-that-heavy-metal-what-i-knew-of-it-anyway-was-for/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [ “A lot of us carry that baggage... I urge people to pack light. \[...\] Romantic relationships where we were actually the ones who needed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/a-lot-of-us-carry-that-baggage-i-urge-people-to-pack-light-romantic/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [ “I wear my headwrap because because a headwrap is a crown, and I am a queen. \[—Erykah Badu\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/i-wear-my-headwrap-because-because-a-headwrap-is-a-crown-and-i-am-a/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [“Thirty's nothing. You ain't did nothing. You seen 30 summers. As far as youth is concerned, it's the same mind really.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/thirty-s-nothing-you-ain-t-did-nothing-you-seen-30-summers-as-far-as/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [“He's one of my best friends in the world, and from my planet its OK for a boy and a girl to be good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/he-s-one-of-my-best-friends-in-the-world-and-from-my-planet-its-ok/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) > [If you can write (and don't kid yourself that you can, if you can't) and you have ideas that are commercially viable and will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/if-you-can-write-and-don-t-kid-yourself-that-you-can-if-you-can-t-and/) [Joel McIver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) [Explore all 12 Joel McIver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/) ## More Black white quotes > [Each of us is precious to God because each of us has their name written on the palms of God's hands. And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [We shall be free only together, black and white. We shall survive only together, black and white. We can be human only together, black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/we-shall-be-free-only-together-black-and-white-we-shall-survive-only/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Which is probably the reason why I work exclusively in black and white... to highlight that contrast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-nimoy/which-is-probably-the-reason-why-i-work-exclusively-in-black-and/) [Leonard Nimoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-nimoy/) > [If you find yourself in a relationship or even a friendship with someone who's conflicted with their gender identity, just be kind. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-d-thompson/if-you-find-yourself-in-a-relationship-or-even-a-friendship-with/) [Linda D. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-d-thompson/) > [I don't think of people as out-and-out black or white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabu/i-don-t-think-of-people-as-out-and-out-black-or-white/) [Tabu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabu/) > [When your life feels black and white make sure that you dream in color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rytmz-ryme/when-your-life-feels-black-and-white-make-sure-that-you-dream-in-color/) [Rytmz Ryme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rytmz-ryme/) > [With 'City of Black & White,' I wanted a record that would make you feel good, that would sort of take you up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/with-city-of-black-white-i-wanted-a-record-that-would-make-you-feel/) [Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/) > [I see Americans of every party, every background, every faith who believe that we are stronger together: black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American; young,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-see-americans-of-every-party-every-background-every-faith-who/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [My comedy has no color, it's for everybody, black, white, Latino, Asian. It's not a pro-black show, not a def jam show; it's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bruce/my-comedy-has-no-color-it-s-for-everybody-black-white-latino-asian-it/) [Bruce Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bruce/) > [In the '70s, in Britain, if you were going to do serious photography, you were obliged to work in black-and-white. Color was the palette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/in-the-70s-in-britain-if-you-were-going-to-do-serious-photography-you/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [The liberal feminist movement never imagined that women would take seriously the encouragement to become our own heroes and claim life for ourselves, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-bruce/the-liberal-feminist-movement-never-imagined-that-women-would-take/) [Tammy Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-bruce/) > [It aint about black or white, coz we all human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2pac/it-aint-about-black-or-white-coz-we-all-human/) [2pac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/2pac/) > [I want to be the voice of the people; black, white, everyday, oppressed people. A person trying to make it and to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/common/i-want-to-be-the-voice-of-the-people-black-white-everyday-oppressed/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/common/) > [The Muslim world just doesn't believe that skin color is all that important. Obama may be half-black, but he's still all-Western, according to them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/the-muslim-world-just-doesn-t-believe-that-skin-color-is-all-that/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [Color is the overpowering of black; white – the final victory over black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/color-is-the-overpowering-of-black-white-the-final-victory-over-black/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) [Browse all 444 Black white quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-white/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Within our own races we distinguish between the natural\" and \"unnatural\" people. But what if none of that really makes a difference? What if we are just black, white, Chinese, African, Native American; what if we're just all here to experience the consequences of our choices and judgements; and what if all this is put in front of us so that we can just all grow as individuals?... You were born by yourself and, when you go to the next level, you're gonna go by yourself. [—Erykah Badu]”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joel McIver" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/within-our-own-races-we-distinguish-between-the-natural-and-unnatural/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Black white" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/within-our-own-races-we-distinguish-between-the-natural-and-unnatural/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/joel-mciver-37097_black-white_within-our-own-races-we-distinguish-betw_1063578.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/joel-mciver-37097_black-white_within-our-own-races-we-distinguish-betw_1063578.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/joel-mciver-37097_black-white_within-our-own-races-we-distinguish-betw_1063578.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Within our own races we distinguish between the natural\" and \"unnatural\" people. But what if none of that…” — Joel McIver", "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": "Joel McIver", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mciver/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Within our own races we distinguish...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/within-our-own-races-we-distinguish-between-the-natural-and-unnatural/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mciver/within-our-own-races-we-distinguish-between-the-natural-and-unnatural/#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 } } ] } ```