--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not that white guys shouldn't be…" description: "\"It's not that white guys shouldn't be allowed to engage in discussions on race in America. But there's nothing more exhausting than white male liberals..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/john-ridley-4100_allowed_it-s-not-that-white-guys-shouldn-t-be-al_3222331.jpg" --- # It's not that white guys shouldn't be allowed to engage in… ![“It's not that white guys shouldn't be allowed to engage in discussions on race in America. But there's nothing more exhausting than white male liberals' dogmatisms on race that were clearly formed during a conversation they had with that one black guy they met back in college.” quote by John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/john-ridley-4100_allowed_it-s-not-that-white-guys-shouldn-t-be-al_3222331.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/john-ridley-4100_allowed_it-s-not-that-white-guys-shouldn-t-be-al_3222331.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/john-ridley-4100_allowed_it-s-not-that-white-guys-shouldn-t-be-al_3222331.jpg) > “It's not that white guys shouldn't be allowed to engage in discussions on race in America. But there's nothing more exhausting than white male liberals' dogmatisms on race that were clearly formed during a conversation they had with that one black guy they met back in college.” [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) ## 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 criticizes white liberal men for offering shallow, performative opinions on race that lack depth and authenticity. **In simple terms:** White liberals often speak on race without real understanding. Key Takeaway Seek genuine listening over performative commentary. Themes race liberalism authenticity dialogue Mood critical reflective Type analytical social commentary When to use this quote - college discussions - social media debates - policy meetings - community workshops Key Concepts performative allyship privilege identity politics Questions to Reflect On - How can allies move from performance to true solidarity? - What does authentic dialogue look like? A Different Perspective Such commentary can reinforce stereotypes rather than foster understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Liberals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberals/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [There has been, and there will continue to be, vigorous discussions about race in America. I worry that little will come of these discussions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/there-has-been-and-there-will-continue-to-be-vigorous-discussions/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [We focus a lot in this country on discussions of race which is very important to understand but I think we need to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-biden/we-focus-a-lot-in-this-country-on-discussions-of-race-which-is-very/) [Ashley Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-biden/) > [I do atypical work for a white person, which is that I lead primarily white audiences in discussions on race every day, in workshops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/i-do-atypical-work-for-a-white-person-which-is-that-i-lead-primarily/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [If faux liberal white guys want to support and defend Obama, by all means please do so. But I would suggest they try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/if-faux-liberal-white-guys-want-to-support-and-defend-obama-by-all/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Old white guys can be a funny bunch, can't they? The same anti-same-sex marriage, anti-affirmative action cadre can flower into the biggest supporters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/old-white-guys-can-be-a-funny-bunch-can-t-they-the-same-anti-same-sex/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [I spent more than ten years working on the Neues Museum. It was a wonderful experience, an example of real collaboration between architects, conservationists,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chipperfield/i-spent-more-than-ten-years-working-on-the-neues-museum-it-was-a/) [David Chipperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chipperfield/) > [I never discuss discussions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/i-never-discuss-discussions/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [I like to collaborate on my music. The creative process is fun, and you get a lot of ideas from having discussions about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-like-to-collaborate-on-my-music-the-creative-process-is-fun-and-you/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [“We should be having discussions about gay identity, helping other athletes to come out, being a positive force. Instead we’re getting dragged down into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyell-gold/we-should-be-having-discussions-about-gay-identity-helping-other/) [Kyell Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyell-gold/) > [The fake republics are goners; the monarchies have a fighting chance. That's my conclusion after a short visit to the Middle East and discussions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-fake-republics-are-goners-the-monarchies-have-a-fighting-chance/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [I don't want everyone toeing the same line. You have got to have discussions and someone might then think of a fresh strategy, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shastri/i-don-t-want-everyone-toeing-the-same-line-you-have-got-to-have/) [Ravi Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shastri/) > [A standard 'well woman' checkup can last as little as 10 minutes, hardly time for any in-depth discussions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/a-standard-well-woman-checkup-can-last-as-little-as-10-minutes-hardly/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [If some people try to make a prenup into a pre-negotiation of a divorce... Well, that's really sad. But I do think that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wasser/if-some-people-try-to-make-a-prenup-into-a-pre-negotiation-of-a/) [Laura Wasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wasser/) > [“Discussing ideas can potentially increase the kinetic energy of ideas to a point where ideas turn into innovation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sukant-ratnakar/discussing-ideas-can-potentially-increase-the-kinetic-energy-of-ideas/) [Sukant Ratnakar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sukant-ratnakar/) > [I think it is really important that people at least have some potentially difficult discussions about what their expectations are - and not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wasser/i-think-it-is-really-important-that-people-at-least-have-some/) [Laura Wasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wasser/) ## More by John Ridley > [The hypocrisy and false piety of the deniers aside, the relationships of gays have no effect on heteros. Especially all the heteros who've done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/the-hypocrisy-and-false-piety-of-the-deniers-aside-the-relationships/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [If art is singular expression, then by nature, the best art is controversial. But when art stirs debate for reasons besides its artistic integrity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/if-art-is-singular-expression-then-by-nature-the-best-art-is/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [While most trudge through their days straight-jacketed in the social compact, living for others as much as or more than for themselves, a select…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/while-most-trudge-through-their-days-straight-jacketed-in-the-social/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Why is it that the very people who have fought so hard and so long for the simple entitlement to love whom they choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/why-is-it-that-the-very-people-who-have-fought-so-hard-and-so-long/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [There are any number of very hard working people in Hollywood who deserve recognition. Mostly its the artisans and crafts persons - the 'below…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/there-are-any-number-of-very-hard-working-people-in-hollywood-who/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [For children, diversity needs to be real and not merely relegated to learning the names of the usual suspects during Black History Month or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/for-children-diversity-needs-to-be-real-and-not-merely-relegated-to/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Conservative talkers love to throw numbers around: their ratings and their audience size. And to be sure, they have a sizable audience which numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/conservative-talkers-love-to-throw-numbers-around-their-ratings-and/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Just mention the idea of warrantless wiretaps and expect to get hit up with a congressional investigation. But give somebody an avatar and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/just-mention-the-idea-of-warrantless-wiretaps-and-expect-to-get-hit/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [As long as we remain committed to holding high our individuals of supreme finish, others will be inspired to loose themselves of the gravity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/as-long-as-we-remain-committed-to-holding-high-our-individuals-of/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [When people come in the door and they have something, discovering and exploring the character is a real joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/when-people-come-in-the-door-and-they-have-something-discovering-and/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Fact is, awards shows were never really about recognizing achievement. They were a publicity ploy cooked up in the late 1920s by MGM topper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/fact-is-awards-shows-were-never-really-about-recognizing-achievement/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [I love graphic novels - I love reading them, I enjoyed writing them, I would love to go back and do them again. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-love-graphic-novels-i-love-reading-them-i-enjoyed-writing-them-i/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [So, is Hollywood anti-religion? Not in my opinion. But unlike, say, politicians and preachers who talk faith before going off to speak in tongues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/so-is-hollywood-anti-religion-not-in-my-opinion-but-unlike-say/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [I didn't know I was a good director, and I mean that sincerely. I had done a film a long time ago called 'Cold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-didn-t-know-i-was-a-good-director-and-i-mean-that-sincerely-i-had/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Quite simply, quite plainly, just by virtue of his being, Barack Obama is America. The first true American to lead our nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/quite-simply-quite-plainly-just-by-virtue-of-his-being-barack-obama/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) [Explore all 116 John Ridley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) ## More Allowed quotes > [I just think that things should be allowed to run their course, and not turned into a Disney ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-shaw/i-just-think-that-things-should-be-allowed-to-run-their-course-and/) [Fiona Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-shaw/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [There aren't traditions of freedom in a place like Iraq. They're going to have to come to grips with a concept that they hadn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-wallop/there-aren-t-traditions-of-freedom-in-a-place-like-iraq-they-re-going/) [Malcolm Wallop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-wallop/) > [One of the mistakes I made was thinking chickens and penguins could sing, just like all the other animals in the 'Muppets.' But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-mckenzie/one-of-the-mistakes-i-made-was-thinking-chickens-and-penguins-could/) [Bret McKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-mckenzie/) > [I was allowed to believe things that weren't true and I would ask questions about them and talk about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/i-was-allowed-to-believe-things-that-weren-t-true-and-i-would-ask/) [Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/) > [I always wanted to make big action movies as a kid, and that was my dream. In a way, 'Swingers' was the thing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-liman/i-always-wanted-to-make-big-action-movies-as-a-kid-and-that-was-my/) [Doug Liman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-liman/) > [For years, I had a top secret clearance and never left Russia. Just once did I go to Bulgaria with my wife for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-kalashnikov/for-years-i-had-a-top-secret-clearance-and-never-left-russia-just/) [Mikhail Kalashnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-kalashnikov/) > [Keep in mind, I'm not allowed to be tough. I'm tamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/keep-in-mind-i-m-not-allowed-to-be-tough-i-m-tamed/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [As a child, we lived in flats, and I was never allowed pets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/as-a-child-we-lived-in-flats-and-i-was-never-allowed-pets/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [I'm not allowed to date. My dad said so. Not until I'm, like, 90.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-hogan/i-m-not-allowed-to-date-my-dad-said-so-not-until-i-m-like-90/) [Brooke Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-hogan/) > [I've grown up playing for some incredible coaches, and I don't think anybody's ever been as fortunate as I have in terms of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-brown/i-ve-grown-up-playing-for-some-incredible-coaches-and-i-don-t-think/) [Larry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-brown/) > [I respect Chris Brown. I'd like to call myself a friend - I don't know if I'm allowed to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-respect-chris-brown-i-d-like-to-call-myself-a-friend-i-don-t-know/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [I was never bothered about my position in the industry. If I had believed in it, I wouldn't have allowed anyone to get ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/i-was-never-bothered-about-my-position-in-the-industry-if-i-had/) [Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/) > [My family, they're story tellers. My mom is Irish, and my dad is Italian. In my family, we weren't allowed to watch TV while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/my-family-they-re-story-tellers-my-mom-is-irish-and-my-dad-is-italian/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [One should be allowed to choose one's burden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-butts/one-should-be-allowed-to-choose-one-s-burden/) [Mary Butts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-butts/) Browse all 1,069 Allowed quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not that white guys shouldn't be allowed to engage in discussions on race in America. But there's nothing more exhausting than white male liberals' dogmatisms on race that were clearly formed during a conversation they had with that one black guy they met back in college.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ridley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/it-s-not-that-white-guys-shouldn-t-be-allowed-to-engage-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Allowed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/it-s-not-that-white-guys-shouldn-t-be-allowed-to-engage-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/john-ridley-4100_allowed_it-s-not-that-white-guys-shouldn-t-be-al_3222331.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/john-ridley-4100_allowed_it-s-not-that-white-guys-shouldn-t-be-al_3222331.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b06/john-ridley-4100_allowed_it-s-not-that-white-guys-shouldn-t-be-al_3222331.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not that white guys shouldn't be allowed to engage in discussions on race in America. But there's…” — John Ridley", "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": "John Ridley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not that white guys shouldn't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/it-s-not-that-white-guys-shouldn-t-be-allowed-to-engage-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/it-s-not-that-white-guys-shouldn-t-be-allowed-to-engage-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 } } ] } ```