---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know how many off the record…"
description: "\"I don't know how many off the record conversations I've had with African-American leaders who would not be quoted and refused to make their sentiments ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/julianne-malveaux-8775_african-american_i-don-t-know-how-many-off-the-record-con_578570.jpg"
---

#  I don't know how many off the record conversations I've…

![“I don't know how many off the record conversations I've had with African-American leaders who would not be quoted and refused to make their sentiments public.” quote by Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/julianne-malveaux-8775_african-american_i-don-t-know-how-many-off-the-record-con_578570.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/julianne-malveaux-8775_african-american_i-don-t-know-how-many-off-the-record-con_578570.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/julianne-malveaux-8775_african-american_i-don-t-know-how-many-off-the-record-con_578570.jpg)

> “I don't know how many off the record conversations I've had with African-American leaders who would not be quoted and refused to make their sentiments public.”

[Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Leaders often avoid public attribution to protect anonymity, limiting transparency and accountability.

**In simple terms:** Leaders stay silent to stay private.

Key Takeaway

Encourage open dialogue with proper credit.

Themes

transparency leadership media

Mood

critical inquisitive

Type

analytical reflective

When to use this quote

- press conferences
- policy discussions
- community forums
- academic panels

Key Concepts

ethics politics communication

Questions to Reflect On

- Why might leaders prefer anonymity?
- How can we verify anonymous sources?

A Different Perspective

Anonymity can protect safety but also obscure truth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Conversations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversations/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments/)

## Related quotes

> [I miss our conversations, I miss how we used to talk every minute of everyday and how I was able to tell you everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-miss-our-conversations-i-miss-how-we-used-to-talk-every-minute-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm boRed out of my mind, so herE I Am, taLking to some of my friends in my contacts List. you are one, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guardian/i-m-bored-out-of-my-mind-so-here-i-am-talking-to-some-of-my-friends/)

Guardian

> [“I feel as though I have been having conversations like this all my life. None of us is young anymore, but what has just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/i-feel-as-though-i-have-been-having-conversations-like-this-all-my/)

[Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/)

> [“I wore an eye patch when I was a kid, you said. Maybe we met out here and fell in love over bad barbecue.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-wore-an-eye-patch-when-i-was-a-kid-you-said-maybe-we-met-out-here/)

[Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/)

> [There are a lot of people who probably enjoyed 'Conversations with Friends' who are part of the system that is actively exploiting other people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-probably-enjoyed-conversations-with/)

[Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/)

> [What I'm interested in is the conversations going on about the Anthropocene and what it means to view ourselves as a part of Earth's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-grinspoon/what-i-m-interested-in-is-the-conversations-going-on-about-the/)

[David Grinspoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-grinspoon/)

> [Art can help steer important conversations in the right direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-mathur/art-can-help-steer-important-conversations-in-the-right-direction/)

[Arjun Mathur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-mathur/)

> [Relationships this days are harder now because conversations become texting, arguments become phone calls and feelings becomes status updates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/insane-insomniac/relationships-this-days-are-harder-now-because-conversations-become/)

[Insane & Insomniac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/insane-insomniac/)

> [We do become our conversations. We really will become our associations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-sharma/we-do-become-our-conversations-we-really-will-become-our-associations/)

[Robin S. Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-sharma/)

> [“So this is my aim for watercooler conversations: improve the ability to identify and understand errors of judgment and choice, in others and eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/so-this-is-my-aim-for-watercooler-conversations-improve-the-ability/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [I rather have one great person to talk to every night than have several pointless conversations with temporary people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/i-rather-have-one-great-person-to-talk-to-every-night-than-have/)

Patience

> [“With nowhere to be and all day to have them, conversations out on the trail took on a whole new meaning and depth. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-rohrig/with-nowhere-to-be-and-all-day-to-have-them-conversations-out-on-the/)

[Kyle Rohrig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-rohrig/)

> [I normally don't initiate conversations with guys unless they want to talk about certain things - when I'm at the facility, I'm there to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/i-normally-don-t-initiate-conversations-with-guys-unless-they-want-to/)

[Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/)

> [I want the conversations I have with my homeboys to be brought to TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-clark/i-want-the-conversations-i-have-with-my-homeboys-to-be-brought-to-tv/)

[Ryan Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-clark/)

> [“First, let me finish. Then interrupt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-spellman/first-let-me-finish-then-interrupt/)

[Brian Spellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-spellman/)

## More by Julianne Malveaux

> [I've talked to dozens of Chicagoans who will only go off the record in talking about the manufactured mythology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/i-ve-talked-to-dozens-of-chicagoans-who-will-only-go-off-the-record/)

[Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/)

> [I do know that there are down-ballot people who have run on the Green Party, and some have been successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/i-do-know-that-there-are-down-ballot-people-who-have-run-on-the-green/)

[Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/)

> [We have a very large military community - veterans and others - who basically do believe in the militarism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/we-have-a-very-large-military-community-veterans-and-others-who/)

[Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/)

> [People have been unhappy for a long time about the two-party system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/people-have-been-unhappy-for-a-long-time-about-the-two-party-system/)

[Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/)

> [ \[Barack Obama\] intended, I think, to say that he took Trayvon's \[ Martin\] death somewhat personally. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/barack-obama-intended-i-think-to-say-that-he-took-trayvon-s-martin/)

[Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/)

> [I describe myself as a "spiritual sampler," raised Catholic, been Baptist, Methodist, and a Unity member.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/i-describe-myself-as-a-spiritual-sampler-raised-catholic-been-baptist/)

[Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/)

> [ As I write in the book, I do not regret either of my votes for President \[Barack\] Obama, nor my support of him when… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/as-i-write-in-the-book-i-do-not-regret-either-of-my-votes-for/)

[Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/)

> [I am not afraid of anything. I am voting for Hillary Clinton because I am excited and enthusiastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/i-am-not-afraid-of-anything-i-am-voting-for-hillary-clinton-because-i/)

[Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/)

> [I don't regret my votes for President Obama by any stretch of the imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/i-don-t-regret-my-votes-for-president-obama-by-any-stretch-of-the/)

[Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/)

> [ Obviously these conditions \[violence, poverty\] predate the \[Barack\] Obama presidency and the president has limited ways to dent this violence. But funding war weapons… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/obviously-these-conditions-violence-poverty-predate-the-barack-obama/)

[Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/)

> [ I hope his wife feeds him \[Clarence Thomas, Justice, U.S. Supreme Court\] lots of eggs and butter and he dies early like many black… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/i-hope-his-wife-feeds-him-clarence-thomas-justice-u-s-supreme-court/)

[Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/)

> [Lots of African-American people really so adore Barack Obama that they're unwilling to even be mildly critical of him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/lots-of-african-american-people-really-so-adore-barack-obama-that/)

[Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/)

> [If some of the recovery money had gone to cities instead of states, the urban population, read "Black" and "Brown," would be better off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/if-some-of-the-recovery-money-had-gone-to-cities-instead-of-states/)

[Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/)

> [ The president \[Barack Obama\] did introduce a jobs bill that could not clear Congress. The Republicans simply would not work with him. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/the-president-barack-obama-did-introduce-a-jobs-bill-that-could-not/)

[Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/)

> [ \[My childhood was \] spiritual than religious. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/my-childhood-was-spiritual-than-religious/)

[Julianne Malveaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/)

[Explore all 78 Julianne Malveaux quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/)

## 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. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/)

[Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/)

> [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/)

[Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/)

> [“This popularity extended to Trump himself, who, according to private demographic research conducted at the time, was even more popular with African American and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/this-popularity-extended-to-trump-himself-who-according-to-private/)

[Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/)

> [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/)

[Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/)

> [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/)

[Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/)

> [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. 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. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/)

[Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/)

> [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/)

[Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/)

> [I think it's easier for African American and white comics to be praised than it is Latinos because they think our culture or our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-think-it-s-easier-for-african-american-and-white-comics-to-be/)

[George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/)

> [“Alabama in 1927 alone, 27,701 men were arrested on misdemeanor charges and offered for sale by county sheriffs. In Blackmon’s estimation, “roughly half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-haney-l-pez/alabama-in-1927-alone-27-701-men-were-arrested-on-misdemeanor-charges/)

[Ian Haney López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-haney-l-pez/)

> [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/)

[Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/)

[Browse all 1,848 African american quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't know how many off the record conversations I've had with African-American leaders who would not be quoted and refused to make their sentiments public.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Julianne Malveaux"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/i-don-t-know-how-many-off-the-record-conversations-i-ve-had-with/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "African american"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/i-don-t-know-how-many-off-the-record-conversations-i-ve-had-with/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/julianne-malveaux-8775_african-american_i-don-t-know-how-many-off-the-record-con_578570.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/julianne-malveaux-8775_african-american_i-don-t-know-how-many-off-the-record-con_578570.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/julianne-malveaux-8775_african-american_i-don-t-know-how-many-off-the-record-con_578570.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't know how many off the record conversations I've had with African-American leaders who would not be…” — Julianne Malveaux",
                "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": "Julianne Malveaux",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-malveaux/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't know how many off...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/i-don-t-know-how-many-off-the-record-conversations-i-ve-had-with/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-malveaux/i-don-t-know-how-many-off-the-record-conversations-i-ve-had-with/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```