---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To make an absolutely gross…"
description: "\"To make an absolutely gross generalization, I think a lot of people feel like if you're mixed, more often than not you're quote unquote white. So if yo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/keegan-michael-key-9705_african-american_to-make-an-absolutely-gross-generalizati_272285.jpg"
---

#  To make an absolutely gross generalization, I think a lot…

![“To make an absolutely gross generalization, I think a lot of people feel like if you're mixed, more often than not you're quote unquote white. So if you're mixed, you embrace the mainstream culture more than the African-American culture.” quote by Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/keegan-michael-key-9705_african-american_to-make-an-absolutely-gross-generalizati_272285.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/keegan-michael-key-9705_african-american_to-make-an-absolutely-gross-generalizati_272285.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/keegan-michael-key-9705_african-american_to-make-an-absolutely-gross-generalizati_272285.jpg)

> “To make an absolutely gross generalization, I think a lot of people feel like if you're mixed, more often than not you're quote unquote white. So if you're mixed, you embrace the mainstream culture more than the African-American culture.”

[Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

## About This Quote

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

Mixed-race individuals often feel pressure to adopt mainstream (white) culture over African-American culture, reflecting societal biases.

**In simple terms:** Mixed heritage can lead to cultural assimilation toward dominant norms.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge and celebrate all cultural roots.

Themes

identity culture race assimilation bias

Mood

thoughtful introspective

Type

sociological personal

When to use this quote

- family gatherings
- school environments
- media consumption
- community events
- personal relationships

Key Concepts

social identity theory cultural hybridity

Questions to Reflect On

- How does mixed heritage shape your cultural choices?
- What pressures influence cultural alignment?

A Different Perspective

May overlook personal agency and diverse experiences within mixed families.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [American culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-culture/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Generalization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generalization/) [Mainstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mainstream/) [Mainstream culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mainstream-culture/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [My life is black and white and mixed. My mother's a Rastafarian, my dad was a short white guy - it's not an affectation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/my-life-is-black-and-white-and-mixed-my-mother-s-a-rastafarian-my-dad/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [I grew up in my neighborhood with salsa, of course bachata, but also hip-hop, Nirvana - it was just like a mixed culture. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romeo-santos/i-grew-up-in-my-neighborhood-with-salsa-of-course-bachata-but-also/)

[Romeo Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romeo-santos/)

> [Sunburn is very becoming - but only when it is even - one must be careful not to look like a mixed grill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-coward/sunburn-is-very-becoming-but-only-when-it-is-even-one-must-be-careful/)

[Noel Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-coward/)

> [“But porca miseria , the things night can do to time. In place of hardwired sequence, it's more like everything all mixed up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-risk-hallberg/but-porca-miseria-the-things-night-can-do-to-time-in-place-of/)

[Garth Risk Hallberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-risk-hallberg/)

> [I feel like mixed to me is just a fun way to go out there and be able to compete. I think as long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-pegula/i-feel-like-mixed-to-me-is-just-a-fun-way-to-go-out-there-and-be-able/)

[Jessica Pegula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-pegula/)

> [Quite often, and in fact more often, I would say, I'm struggling all the way through to think, "What is it I like about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/quite-often-and-in-fact-more-often-i-would-say-i-m-struggling-all-the/)

[Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/)

> [Know that I have a black child I'd like to have a mixed child. To me they are a sign of harmony of everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-cortez-stanfield/know-that-i-have-a-black-child-i-d-like-to-have-a-mixed-child-to-me/)

[Marlon Cortez Stanfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-cortez-stanfield/)

> [There's a thing called the 'One Drop' theory in African-American culture, which is if you have one drop of black blood in you, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/there-s-a-thing-called-the-one-drop-theory-in-african-american/)

[Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

> [I think I fish, in part, because it's an anti-social, bohemian business that, when gone about properly, puts you forever outside the mainstream culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gierach/i-think-i-fish-in-part-because-it-s-an-anti-social-bohemian-business/)

[John Gierach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gierach/)

> [I’m glad mainstream culture is starting to catch up to where lesbian-feminism was 30 years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/i-m-glad-mainstream-culture-is-starting-to-catch-up-to-where-lesbian/)

[Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/)

> [“Fanfiction is the madwoman in mainstream culture’s attic, but the attic won’t contain it forever. Writing and reading fanfiction isn’t just something you do;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-jamison/fanfiction-is-the-madwoman-in-mainstream-culture-s-attic-but-the/)

[Anne Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-jamison/)

> [I sometimes have the sense that I live my life as a writer with my nose pressed against the wide, shiny plate glass window…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-clausen/i-sometimes-have-the-sense-that-i-live-my-life-as-a-writer-with-my/)

[Jan Clausen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-clausen/)

> [Look, when I started out, mainstream culture was Sinatra, Perry Como, Andy Williams, Sound of Music. There was no fitting into it then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/look-when-i-started-out-mainstream-culture-was-sinatra-perry-como/)

[Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/)

> [I like the idea that you would participate in mainstream culture, especially for young girls and young kids who are looking for an alternative.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/i-like-the-idea-that-you-would-participate-in-mainstream-culture/)

[Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/)

> [Noise has taken the place of punk rock. People who play noise have no real aspirations to being part of the mainstream culture. Punk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/noise-has-taken-the-place-of-punk-rock-people-who-play-noise-have-no/)

[Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/)

## More by Keegan-Michael Key

> [I would like to invest more of my brain space in understanding the history of my city, because whenever I learn about the history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/i-would-like-to-invest-more-of-my-brain-space-in-understanding-the/)

[Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

> [Some of the friendliest, friendliest people you're going to meet are going to be in Detroit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/some-of-the-friendliest-friendliest-people-you-re-going-to-meet-are/)

[Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

> [I'm very concerned with what's going on the news, but I would not call myself a political animal, per se. I pay more attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/i-m-very-concerned-with-what-s-going-on-the-news-but-i-would-not-call/)

[Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

> [I'm tall and thin but not strong, so you're either an athlete or you're funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/i-m-tall-and-thin-but-not-strong-so-you-re-either-an-athlete-or-you/)

[Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

> [ We share plates \[with Jordan Peele\], and we also very often will sit in the corner and kind of speak in our own language. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/we-share-plates-with-jordan-peele-and-we-also-very-often-will-sit-in/)

[Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

> [ \[The rumor that Leonardo DiCaprio on set was raped by a bear\] was as silly as Lady Gaga bumping him or moving his arm… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/the-rumor-that-leonardo-dicaprio-on-set-was-raped-by-a-bear-was-as/)

[Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

> [I want people to say, "Oh my God, I'm laughing out loud at television."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/i-want-people-to-say-oh-my-god-i-m-laughing-out-loud-at-television/)

[Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

> [It was very important thousands of years ago to categorize things. I can eat that plant, I can't eat that plant. Or this tribe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/it-was-very-important-thousands-of-years-ago-to-categorize-things-i/)

[Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

> [Bill Murray is such a tremendous talent, but the world wasn't ready for 'Razor's Edge,' for something that thoughtful and with that much depth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/bill-murray-is-such-a-tremendous-talent-but-the-world-wasn-t-ready/)

[Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

> [There's a very famous South African playwright named Athol Fugard, and I'd be in any play he's ever did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/there-s-a-very-famous-south-african-playwright-named-athol-fugard-and/)

[Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

> [I would play just about any role, male or female, in the Anton Chekov play 'The Cherry Orchard,' which I love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/i-would-play-just-about-any-role-male-or-female-in-the-anton-chekov/)

[Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

> [There is nothing more dangerous on planet Earth than a black wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/there-is-nothing-more-dangerous-on-planet-earth-than-a-black-wife/)

[Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

> [There's a sketch where we're playing two terrorists in a cave, and my terrorist is very frustrated as to why we haven't flown a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/there-s-a-sketch-where-we-re-playing-two-terrorists-in-a-cave-and-my/)

[Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

> [Ricky Gervais changed our lives. And Mitch Hedberg, who we're like, "Oh, that's funny to me on a level I don't think I understand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/ricky-gervais-changed-our-lives-and-mitch-hedberg-who-we-re-like-oh/)

[Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

> [You can not have comedy unless people are behaving badly. You can't have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/you-can-not-have-comedy-unless-people-are-behaving-badly-you-can-t/)

[Keegan-Michael Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

[Explore all 70 Keegan-Michael Key quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/)

## 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": "To make an absolutely gross generalization, I think a lot of people feel like if you're mixed, more often than not you're quote unquote white. So if you're mixed, you embrace the mainstream culture more than the African-American culture.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Keegan-Michael Key"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/to-make-an-absolutely-gross-generalization-i-think-a-lot-of-people/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "African american"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/to-make-an-absolutely-gross-generalization-i-think-a-lot-of-people/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/keegan-michael-key-9705_african-american_to-make-an-absolutely-gross-generalizati_272285.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/keegan-michael-key-9705_african-american_to-make-an-absolutely-gross-generalizati_272285.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3b/keegan-michael-key-9705_african-american_to-make-an-absolutely-gross-generalizati_272285.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“To make an absolutely gross generalization, I think a lot of people feel like if you're mixed, more often…” — Keegan-Michael Key",
                "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": "Keegan-Michael Key",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keegan-michael-key/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "To make an absolutely gross generalization,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/to-make-an-absolutely-gross-generalization-i-think-a-lot-of-people/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keegan-michael-key/to-make-an-absolutely-gross-generalization-i-think-a-lot-of-people/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```