--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just me existing, as an openly black…" description: "\"Just me existing, as an openly black transgender woman from a working-class background, thriving, is a political act. My brother always reminds me that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/laverne-cox-12172_black_just-me-existing-as-an-openly-black-tran_436818.jpg" --- # Just me existing, as an openly black transgender woman… ![“Just me existing, as an openly black transgender woman from a working-class background, thriving, is a political act. My brother always reminds me that if you are black in America and you're alive, you deserve a round of applause. There are so many forces that don't want us to be alive, and so…” quote by Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/laverne-cox-12172_black_just-me-existing-as-an-openly-black-tran_436818.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/laverne-cox-12172_black_just-me-existing-as-an-openly-black-tran_436818.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/035/laverne-cox-12172_black_just-me-existing-as-an-openly-black-tran_436818.jpg) > “Just me existing, as an openly black transgender woman from a working-class background, thriving, is a political act. My brother always reminds me that if you are black in America and you're alive, you deserve a round of applause. There are so many forces that don't want us to be alive, and so just being openly who I am, and happy and thriving, is a political act.” [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living authentically as a black transgender woman from a working-class background is a radical political statement against systemic oppression. **In simple terms:** Being openly black and trans is a political act. Key Takeaway Embrace and celebrate your identity publicly. Themes identity politics intersectionality resilience visibility Mood defiant hopeful proud Type personal political inspirational When to use this quote - public speaking - community organizing - media representation - personal storytelling Key Concepts social justice self‑affirmation systemic oppression empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How does visibility challenge societal norms? - What risks do you face by being openly yourself? A Different Perspective May be perceived as confrontational or tokenizing, risking backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black In America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-in-america/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Thriving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thriving/) [Transgender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transgender/) ## Related quotes > [Being a black transgender woman in America is really hard. It's been really hard for me. But for me living a lie was much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/being-a-black-transgender-woman-in-america-is-really-hard-it-s-been/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [Seeing a black transgender woman embracing and loving everything about herself might be inspiring to some other folks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/seeing-a-black-transgender-woman-embracing-and-loving-everything/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [It's a new world that's very, very difficult to make sense of. But we have a new hope. We have a new man. America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-bremner/it-s-a-new-world-that-s-very-very-difficult-to-make-sense-of-but-we/) [Rory Bremner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-bremner/) > [“I was just existing, but he made me want to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-crane/i-was-just-existing-but-he-made-me-want-to-live/) [Shelly Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-crane/) > [“She was tired of just existing; she wanted to live. But what was the point in living when there was no life in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/she-was-tired-of-just-existing-she-wanted-to-live-but-what-was-the/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [“And as I stand up and take that breath I can feel that being here is no static thing. We are not just existing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-hart/and-as-i-stand-up-and-take-that-breath-i-can-feel-that-being-here-is/) Lois Hart > [“There is so much beauty in just existing. In being alive. I don't want to miss a second.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-harrington/there-is-so-much-beauty-in-just-existing-in-being-alive-i-don-t-want/) [Hannah Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-harrington/) > [Are You Living or Just Existing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-perry/are-you-living-or-just-existing/) [Tyler Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-perry/) > [It's very important to enjoy time alone with yourself and just existing, because existence is kind of cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-olsen/it-s-very-important-to-enjoy-time-alone-with-yourself-and-just/) [Angel Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel-olsen/) > [“There is so much beauty in just existing. In being alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-harrington/there-is-so-much-beauty-in-just-existing-in-being-alive/) [Hannah Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-harrington/) > [You are loved just for being who you are, just for existing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/you-are-loved-just-for-being-who-you-are-just-for-existing/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [“I wasn't living. I was just existing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurann-dohner/i-wasn-t-living-i-was-just-existing/) [Laurann Dohner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurann-dohner/) > [“Just existing is where a lot of living happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-gallagher/just-existing-is-where-a-lot-of-living-happens/) Fred Gallagher > [I'm just here,existing at the surface of the water,not quite drowning but not quite able to breathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-sorensen/i-m-just-here-existing-at-the-surface-of-the-water-not-quite-drowning/) [Jessica Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-sorensen/) > [“I wasn't living, just existing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-spry/i-wasn-t-living-just-existing/) Victoria Spry ## More by Laverne Cox > [I think transwomen, and transpeople in general, show everyone that you can define what it means to be a man or woman on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/i-think-transwomen-and-transpeople-in-general-show-everyone-that-you/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [What took time for my mom was getting the pronouns right and calling me by a different name. Laverne was my middle name before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/what-took-time-for-my-mom-was-getting-the-pronouns-right-and-calling/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [So often, trans roles don't even go to trans actors. Most of the fabulous trans roles that have won people Oscars, we didn't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/so-often-trans-roles-don-t-even-go-to-trans-actors-most-of-the/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [I believe that when we love someone, we respect them, and we listen to them; we feel that their voice matters. And- we let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/i-believe-that-when-we-love-someone-we-respect-them-and-we-listen-to/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [It is revolutionary for any trans person to choose to be seen and visible in a world that tells us we should not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/it-is-revolutionary-for-any-trans-person-to-choose-to-be-seen-and/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [I just have to be myself. I'm not perfect, and I'm going to make mistakes; I might say the wrong thing. I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/i-just-have-to-be-myself-i-m-not-perfect-and-i-m-going-to-make/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [I'm so grateful that I had the luxury of transitioning in private. Because when you transition in the public eye, the transition becomes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/i-m-so-grateful-that-i-had-the-luxury-of-transitioning-in-private/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [When people have points of reference that are humanizing, that demystifies difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/when-people-have-points-of-reference-that-are-humanizing-that/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [“Everything that you're going through now is for a reason. You just have to survive so that one day you can thrive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/everything-that-you-re-going-through-now-is-for-a-reason-you-just/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [By doing the work to love ourselves more, I believe we will love each other better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/by-doing-the-work-to-love-ourselves-more-i-believe-we-will-love-each/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [“We are not what other people say we are. We are who we know ourselves to be, and we are what we love. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/we-are-not-what-other-people-say-we-are-we-are-who-we-know-ourselves/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [Beyoncé means so much to me. Throughout my transition, Beyoncé has been there as a style icon, an example of excellence, of beauty, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/beyonc-means-so-much-to-me-throughout-my-transition-beyonc-has-been/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [The preoccupation with transition and with surgery objectifies trans people, and we don't get to really deal with the real lived experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/the-preoccupation-with-transition-and-with-surgery-objectifies-trans/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [Everyone is insecure. I think, really, it comes from, like, a desire to want to be in control of how you're represented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/everyone-is-insecure-i-think-really-it-comes-from-like-a-desire-to/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) > [I'm always skeptical about representations of trans people, especially when trans people are not making the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laverne-cox/i-m-always-skeptical-about-representations-of-trans-people-especially/) [Laverne Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) [Explore all 56 Laverne Cox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laverne-cox/) ## More Black quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. 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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/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) Browse all 11,655 Black quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Just me existing, as an openly black transgender woman from a working-class background, thriving, is a political act. My brother always reminds me that if you are black in America and you're alive, you deserve a round of applause. 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