--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even when I encountered racism outside…" description: "\"“Even when I encountered racism outside Salmon Creek, it usually rolled off me. The worst of it often came from rednecks whipping past in rusted pickup..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/kelley-armstrong-581_racism_even-when-i-encountered-racism-outside-s_690958.png" --- # Even when I encountered racism outside Salmon Creek, it… ![“Even when I encountered racism outside Salmon Creek, it usually rolled off me. The worst of it often came from rednecks whipping past in rusted pickups. I looked at them and I looked at me-class leader, track star, straight-A student- and their slurs about dirty Indians and drunk Indians and dumb…” quote by Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/kelley-armstrong-581_racism_even-when-i-encountered-racism-outside-s_690958.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/kelley-armstrong-581_racism_even-when-i-encountered-racism-outside-s_690958.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/kelley-armstrong-581_racism_even-when-i-encountered-racism-outside-s_690958.png) > ““Even when I encountered racism outside Salmon Creek, it usually rolled off me. The worst of it often came from rednecks whipping past in rusted pickups. I looked at them and I looked at me-class leader, track star, straight-A student- and their slurs about dirty Indians and drunk Indians and dumb Indians were laughable. Mom says crap like that comes from people who´ve accomplished so little in lifethat they feel the need to lift themselves above someone, anyone. So they pick skin color or religion or sexual orientation and say, "Well, I might not be much, but at least I´m not a ..." I´d look at those guys, and see the truth of her words.”” [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Racism often stems from insecurity and a need to feel superior, but confronting it reveals its absurdity. **In simple terms:** Racism is rooted in insecurity. Key Takeaway Challenge prejudice with perspective. Themes racism insecurity superiority social hierarchy prejudice Mood reflective serious empowering Type quote analysis social commentary When to use this quote - school environment - public spaces - online interactions - community meetings - personal encounters Key Concepts sociology psychology identity politics Questions to Reflect On - Why do people use slurs to feel better? - How can you respond when faced with racism? A Different Perspective Changing attitudes requires systemic effort beyond individual insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Encountered Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encountered-racism-803705/) [Mom Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom-says/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Racism Outside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism-outside-4524301/) [Skin color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skin-color/) [Slurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slurs/) [Slurs Dirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slurs-dirty-5489770/) ## Related quotes > [The thing is that racism is systematic, so of course it sometimes manifested itself within the clubs. But I have certainly experienced racism outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-seymour/the-thing-is-that-racism-is-systematic-so-of-course-it-sometimes/) [Craig Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-seymour/) > [Personally I have not encountered racism at matches, or in clubs I have worked in, for many years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-warnock/personally-i-have-not-encountered-racism-at-matches-or-in-clubs-i/) [Neil Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-warnock/) > [I can honestly say that in my time in America, I have not encountered any racism. When Jim Thorpe and I make fun of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-singh/i-can-honestly-say-that-in-my-time-in-america-i-have-not-encountered/) [Vijay Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-singh/) > [I can't say I have enough experience with Hollywood to feel that I've encountered racism there. I can tell you that I did about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/i-can-t-say-i-have-enough-experience-with-hollywood-to-feel-that-i-ve/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > [Refrain from excessive use of abusive language and racial slurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/refrain-from-excessive-use-of-abusive-language-and-racial-slurs/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you bury your face in your tear-stained pillow and beg God to please send you your soul mate, may you not slur your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/if-you-bury-your-face-in-your-tear-stained-pillow-and-beg-god-to/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [Fury is an entirely appropriate response to a system that sends young people to kill other young people in a war that never should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/fury-is-an-entirely-appropriate-response-to-a-system-that-sends-young/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [“If you could have anything, Dante, anything at all, what would it be? She slurs. Her. I want Charlie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-scott/if-you-could-have-anything-dante-anything-at-all-what-would-it-be-she/) [Victoria Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-scott/) > [I was verbally attacked by a Momentum activist and Jeremy Corbyn supporter who used traditional antisemitic slurs to attack me for being part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-smeeth/i-was-verbally-attacked-by-a-momentum-activist-and-jeremy-corbyn/) [Ruth Smeeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-smeeth/) > [Go back and take a look at what some black writers were saying in the 1820s, the 1830s. They make mention of how some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-kennedy/go-back-and-take-a-look-at-what-some-black-writers-were-saying-in-the/) [Randall Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-kennedy/) > [You know what the worst part about my drinking is? When I'm drunk I slur. You know, like I say racial slurs. Wow, nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/you-know-what-the-worst-part-about-my-drinking-is-when-i-m-drunk-i/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Its almost Thanksgiving! A day when you get to hear your extended family use racial slurs for groups are not taking away their jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-kirkman/its-almost-thanksgiving-a-day-when-you-get-to-hear-your-extended/) [Jen Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-kirkman/) > [“You know, one of these days, I'm actually going to take offense if people keep throwing out these slurs. And then things are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/you-know-one-of-these-days-i-m-actually-going-to-take-offense-if/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [Remember that time slurs over everything, let all deeds fade, blurs all writings and kills all memories. Exempt are only those which dig into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/remember-that-time-slurs-over-everything-let-all-deeds-fade-blurs-all/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Certainly, it is important to be polite, and nobody should think that using racial or ethnic slurs is acceptable. But political correctness has morphed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/certainly-it-is-important-to-be-polite-and-nobody-should-think-that/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) ## More by Kelley Armstrong > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“He turned my way, and I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't notice for a second. Then I realized I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-turned-my-way-and-i-was-so-engrossed-in-my-thoughts-that-i-didn-t/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [when times are tough, the weak bail and the tough get creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-times-are-tough-the-weak-bail-and-the-tough-get-creative/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Nuh-uh. No deals with the devil. I’ve learned my lesson on that one. ~Jaime Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/nuh-uh-no-deals-with-the-devil-i-ve-learned-my-lesson-on-that-one/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“Another night then,' Mom said. 'Maybe on the weekend we can have a barbecue and invite your sister.' 'Or,' I said turning to Rafe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the-weekend-we-can-have-a/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Believe me, I have better things to do than sabotage your friendships. No one else's world revolves around you, Cassandra." -Paige to Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/believe-me-i-have-better-things-to-do-than-sabotage-your-friendships/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Reviews are great. I can read negative reviews and say, 'You know that point they made... they were dead on.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/reviews-are-great-i-can-read-negative-reviews-and-say-you-know-that/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [When a series is doing well, it's very tempting to keep writing it, even when the creative well is drying up. It's tempting because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-a-series-is-doing-well-it-s-very-tempting-to-keep-writing-it/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [You bat your baby blues at tall, dark, and gruesome, and next thing you know, he's trailing you like a lost puppy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/you-bat-your-baby-blues-at-tall-dark-and-gruesome-and-next-thing-you/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [With no chance to take off, I had to play my role, searching for the rendezvous spot, which gave me the excuse to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/with-no-chance-to-take-off-i-had-to-play-my-role-searching-for-the/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [When I glanced at the chair, it started to shake. I’d like to think it was scared of me, but I rarely invoked that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-i-glanced-at-the-chair-it-started-to-shake-i-d-like-to-think-it/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“Nonsense, Chloe. I certainly hope you aren't afraid of cemeteries" "Um, no" Tori said. "It's the bodies buried in them that worry her. Uh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/nonsense-chloe-i-certainly-hope-you-aren-t-afraid-of-cemeteries-um-no/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I was...a journalist...though my typical beat was freelancing articles on Canadian politics, which never included any mention of demonic phenomena, though it might explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-was-a-journalist-though-my-typical-beat-was-freelancing-articles-on/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I found something" Simon said as he walked in. He whipped out an old-fashioned key from his pocket and grinned at me. "It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-found-something-simon-said-as-he-walked-in-he-whipped-out-an-old/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“He laughed and tugged me down in a kiss. Then, lips still close enough to feel them tickle mine, he said, "You know this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-laughed-and-tugged-me-down-in-a-kiss-then-lips-still-close-enough/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) [Explore all 458 Kelley Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## More Racism quotes > [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [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/) > [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures bristling with prejudice and motivated by pride and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/when-dealing-with-people-remember-you-are-not-dealing-with-creatures/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. 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Black people don't know it but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/black-privilege-is-a-concrete-motive-that-black-people-benefit-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female-character-or-an-asian/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) [Browse all 10,057 Racism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Even when I encountered racism outside Salmon Creek, it usually rolled off me. The worst of it often came from rednecks whipping past in rusted pickups. I looked at them and I looked at me-class leader, track star, straight-A student- and their slurs about dirty Indians and drunk Indians and dumb Indians were laughable. Mom says crap like that comes from people who´ve accomplished so little in lifethat they feel the need to lift themselves above someone, anyone. 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