--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's an anecdote that's really been…" description: "\"There's an anecdote that's really been sticking with me: To be a Black man in America, you are born into the horror genre. You are not safe. Period. Fu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/jonathan-majors-11497_america_there-s-an-anecdote-that-s-really-been-s_2922389.jpg" --- # There's an anecdote that's really been sticking with me… ![“There's an anecdote that's really been sticking with me: To be a Black man in America, you are born into the horror genre. You are not safe. Period. Full stop.” quote by Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/jonathan-majors-11497_america_there-s-an-anecdote-that-s-really-been-s_2922389.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/jonathan-majors-11497_america_there-s-an-anecdote-that-s-really-been-s_2922389.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/jonathan-majors-11497_america_there-s-an-anecdote-that-s-really-been-s_2922389.jpg) > “There's an anecdote that's really been sticking with me: To be a Black man in America, you are born into the horror genre. You are not safe. Period. Full stop.” [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Black men in America face constant fear, likened to living in a horror story, highlighting systemic insecurity. **In simple terms:** Black men feel unsafe. Key Takeaway Address systemic racism for safety. Themes racism security identity Mood urgent defiant Type political activist When to use this quote - urban life - policing - media representation - mental health Key Concepts social justice systemic oppression Questions to Reflect On - What reforms could reduce this perpetual fear? - How does media shape this perception? A Different Perspective Safety cannot be achieved without structural change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror/) [Horror genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror-genre/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [Being a black man in America isn't easy. The hunt is on, and you're the prey. All I'm saying is... 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His goals should be the solution of the problem of the black man in America. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/that-s-where-dr-martin-luther-king-is-mixed-up-his-goals-should-be/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [As a black man in America, I have lived the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-stallworth/as-a-black-man-in-america-i-have-lived-the-truth/) [Ron Stallworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-stallworth/) > [I'm a black man in America, so I'm going to be misunderstood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-m-a-black-man-in-america-so-i-m-going-to-be-misunderstood/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [ Now, the black man here was so-called free by \[Abe\] Lincoln 100 years ago. The black man in America has an - has a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/now-the-black-man-here-was-so-called-free-by-abe-lincoln-100-years/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I will say that when it comes to the horror genre, for me, the scariest thing is when something is actually in the frame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-whannell/i-will-say-that-when-it-comes-to-the-horror-genre-for-me-the-scariest/) [Leigh Whannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-whannell/) > [I love the horror genre. I consider myself a genre filmmaker. I love genre, but I think there's a certain amount of complacency that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-aster/i-love-the-horror-genre-i-consider-myself-a-genre-filmmaker-i-love/) [Ari Aster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-aster/) > [I hope to be on the scene for a long time. I'd love to be old and gray and still be working in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-crampton/i-hope-to-be-on-the-scene-for-a-long-time-i-d-love-to-be-old-and-gray/) [Barbara Crampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-crampton/) > [If you look at the horror genre, that work is all about making people uncomfortable by stimulating our fear of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottessa-moshfegh/if-you-look-at-the-horror-genre-that-work-is-all-about-making-people/) [Ottessa Moshfegh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottessa-moshfegh/) > [I was voted Most Humorous in my senior class in high school, and I was a fan of comedy, my whole life. I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-riggle/i-was-voted-most-humorous-in-my-senior-class-in-high-school-and-i-was/) [Rob Riggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-riggle/) > [“Can you imagine life without the horror genre? There would be no monsters. Only a\*\*holes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-a-arnzen/can-you-imagine-life-without-the-horror-genre-there-would-be-no/) Michael A. Arnzen > [As a Black man, you are living in a place and you are constantly unsafe. And we go to these bastions of safety: Harlem,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/as-a-black-man-you-are-living-in-a-place-and-you-are-constantly/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [You know, I'm a 6-foot Black man, and I'm built the way I'm built. Driving is a very stress-inducing thing for me to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/you-know-i-m-a-6-foot-black-man-and-i-m-built-the-way-i-m-built/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [America was born in outrageous ambition, so bold as to be improbable. The deprived, the oppressed, the powerless from all over the globe came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/america-was-born-in-outrageous-ambition-so-bold-as-to-be-improbable/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) ## More by Jonathan Majors > [The interesting thing about an absent father is, for a child, you don't know he's absent. You just think he's... tardy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/the-interesting-thing-about-an-absent-father-is-for-a-child-you-don-t/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [You speak to be understood, right? And you're understood so you can be felt. And you're felt so you can get what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/you-speak-to-be-understood-right-and-you-re-understood-so-you-can-be/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [My first kiss was fourth grade, girl named Krista West. We're walking out to the black top, and I throw my arm around her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/my-first-kiss-was-fourth-grade-girl-named-krista-west-we-re-walking/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [That's the beauty of being an actor. You're kind of a journeyman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/that-s-the-beauty-of-being-an-actor-you-re-kind-of-a-journeyman/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [Growth is uncomfortable; you have to embrace the discomfort if you want to expand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/growth-is-uncomfortable-you-have-to-embrace-the-discomfort-if-you/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [In war, the first thing that goes, when you try to take over culture, is the statues. 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You have to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/i-have-nine-years-of-scholastic-actor-training-and-what-i-ve-learned/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [I try to do my best to differentiate each fella, each spirit, from the next one... and once it's exorcised it doesn't just go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/i-try-to-do-my-best-to-differentiate-each-fella-each-spirit-from-the/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [I'm an actor, and the thing about an actor is that if you're fortunate enough and you have the ability, is you can access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/i-m-an-actor-and-the-thing-about-an-actor-is-that-if-you-re-fortunate/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [In sci-fi, the Black guys always die. So, it's extremely important to bring African-American characters to the genre and not have them killed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/in-sci-fi-the-black-guys-always-die-so-it-s-extremely-important-to/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [I use the transition of the airport, the flying from one place to another to really let go of the -isms, and the ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/i-use-the-transition-of-the-airport-the-flying-from-one-place-to/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [And if you think this young boy, from Dallas, Texas, is adding to the canon of theater arts, of performing arts, of cinema, well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/and-if-you-think-this-young-boy-from-dallas-texas-is-adding-to-the/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) [Explore all 59 Jonathan Majors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? 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