--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I disconnected myself to shield myself…" description: "\"“I disconnected myself to shield myself from people who would sway to my songs in the club and call me 'nigger' in the street. They were too busy seein..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/lena-horne-15555_too-busy_i-disconnected-myself-to-shield-myself-f_1032302.jpg" --- # I disconnected myself to shield myself from people who… ![“I disconnected myself to shield myself from people who would sway to my songs in the club and call me 'nigger' in the street. They were too busy seeing their own preconceived image of a Negro woman. the image that I chose to give them was of a woman who they could not reach and therefore can't hurt.” quote by Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/lena-horne-15555_too-busy_i-disconnected-myself-to-shield-myself-f_1032302.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/lena-horne-15555_too-busy_i-disconnected-myself-to-shield-myself-f_1032302.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/lena-horne-15555_too-busy_i-disconnected-myself-to-shield-myself-f_1032302.jpg) > ““I disconnected myself to shield myself from people who would sway to my songs in the club and call me 'nigger' in the street. They were too busy seeing their own preconceived image of a Negro woman. the image that I chose to give them was of a woman who they could not reach and therefore can't hurt.”” [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She isolates herself to avoid being harmed by others' racist projections, creating an untouchable persona for protection. **In simple terms:** She protects herself by staying distant from racist expectations. Key Takeaway Maintain boundaries to guard emotional safety. Themes racism identity self‑protection Mood defensive reflective Type personal social When to use this quote - personal relationships - public appearances - online interactions Key Concepts psychological defense social perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance self‑protection with openness? - What risks arise from extreme emotional distance? A Different Perspective Boundaries can also lead to isolation and missed authentic connections. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Club Nigger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/club-nigger-2364803/) [Image Negro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/image-negro-2364805/) [Negro Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negro-woman-2052421/) [Nigger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nigger/) [Nigger Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nigger-street-2364804/) [Too busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-busy/) ## Related quotes > [I am a colored woman or a Negro woman. Either one is OK. People dislike those words now. Today these use this term African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-elizabeth-delany/i-am-a-colored-woman-or-a-negro-woman-either-one-is-ok-people-dislike/) [Annie Elizabeth Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-elizabeth-delany/) > [I will cut off this right arm of mine before I will ever work or demand the ballot for the Negro and not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/i-will-cut-off-this-right-arm-of-mine-before-i-will-ever-work-or/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [Would it be better if I'd married a Negro woman? Would they treat my child any better? Erect fewer barriers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-davis-jr/would-it-be-better-if-i-d-married-a-negro-woman-would-they-treat-my/) [Sammy Davis, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-davis-jr/) > [I will cut off this right arm of mine before I will ask for the ballot for the Negro and not for the woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/i-will-cut-off-this-right-arm-of-mine-before-i-will-ask-for-the/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [I am not merely satisfied in making money for myself, for I am endeavoring to provide employment for hundreds of women of my race.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/i-am-not-merely-satisfied-in-making-money-for-myself-for-i-am/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [A Negro woman has the same kind of problems as other women, but she can't take the same things for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-height/a-negro-woman-has-the-same-kind-of-problems-as-other-women-but-she/) [Dorothy Height](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-height/) > [“With this law in place, White enslavers could now reap financial reward from relations “upon a negro woman.” But they wanted to prevent the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibram-x-kendi/with-this-law-in-place-white-enslavers-could-now-reap-financial/) [Ibram X. Kendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibram-x-kendi/) > [I proudly love being a Negro woman -- it's so involved and interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-spencer/i-proudly-love-being-a-negro-woman-it-s-so-involved-and-interesting/) [Anne Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-spencer/) > [“Stagolee was, undoubtedly and without question, the baddest nigger that ever lived. Stagolee was so bad that the flies wouldn't even fly around his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-lester/stagolee-was-undoubtedly-and-without-question-the-baddest-nigger-that/) [Julius Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-lester/) > [“Both Richard and I sat silent and watched Jennifer Lee . She came across the room and over to us and swept our chess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-brown/both-richard-and-i-sat-silent-and-watched-jennifer-lee-she-came/) [Cecil Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-brown/) > [“Dear Momma―Wherever you are, if ever you hear the word "nigger" again, remember they are advertising my book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gregory/dear-momma-wherever-you-are-if-ever-you-hear-the-word-nigger-again/) [Dick Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gregory/) > [“Why was "nigger" bleeped out? I mean, "nigger" is a word that exists. People use it. It is part of America. It has caused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/why-was-nigger-bleeped-out-i-mean-nigger-is-a-word-that-exists-people/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [“He never denied it. He never did anything. He never acted like either a nigger or a white man. That was it. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/he-never-denied-it-he-never-did-anything-he-never-acted-like-either-a/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“Brian darling, I’m really not such an idiot that I don’t realize that if a man calls me a nigger it’s his fault the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nella-larsen/brian-darling-i-m-really-not-such-an-idiot-that-i-don-t-realize-that/) [Nella Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nella-larsen/) > [Nigger Money talks trust me I know what I'm saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trunxbeats/nigger-money-talks-trust-me-i-know-what-i-m-saying/) [Trunxbeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trunxbeats/) ## More by Lena Horne > [It's so nice to get flowers while you can still smell the fragrance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/it-s-so-nice-to-get-flowers-while-you-can-still-smell-the-fragrance/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. Carry it by the comfortable handles of gratitude for what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/it-s-not-the-load-that-breaks-you-down-it-s-the-way-you-carry-it/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [I made a promise to myself to be kinder to other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/i-made-a-promise-to-myself-to-be-kinder-to-other-people/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [You have to be taught to be second class; you're not born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/you-have-to-be-taught-to-be-second-class-you-re-not-born-that-way/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [Nobody black or white who really believes in democracy can stand aside now; everybody's got to stand up and be counted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/nobody-black-or-white-who-really-believes-in-democracy-can-stand/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [I'm not a career kind of person. When I saw new music, new trends coming in, I didn't see any place for me. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/i-m-not-a-career-kind-of-person-when-i-saw-new-music-new-trends/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [Malcolm X made me very strong at a time I needed to understand what I was angry about. He had peace in his heart.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/malcolm-x-made-me-very-strong-at-a-time-i-needed-to-understand-what-i/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [Don't be afraid to feel as angry or as loving as you can, because when you feel nothing, it's just death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/don-t-be-afraid-to-feel-as-angry-or-as-loving-as-you-can-because-when/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [ I learned from Ethel Waters, Duke Ellington, Adelaide Hall, the Nicholas Brothers, the whole thing, the whole schmear. \[The Cotton Club\] was a great… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/i-learned-from-ethel-waters-duke-ellington-adelaide-hall-the-nicholas/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [Count Basie isn't just a man, or even just a band. He's a way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/count-basie-isn-t-just-a-man-or-even-just-a-band-he-s-a-way-of-life/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [I had my schooling right there in the Cotton Club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/i-had-my-schooling-right-there-in-the-cotton-club/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [I want to sing like Aretha Franklin. Before her I wanted the technical ability of Ella Fitzgerald.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/i-want-to-sing-like-aretha-franklin-before-her-i-wanted-the-technical/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [After I got over the terrible pain of having something of mine taken from me, I began to think how bad everybody else must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/after-i-got-over-the-terrible-pain-of-having-something-of-mine-taken/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [I really do hate to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/i-really-do-hate-to-sing/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [A little nepotism never hurt nobody, honey. If you got it, use it. Press on with it. Remind them of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/a-little-nepotism-never-hurt-nobody-honey-if-you-got-it-use-it-press/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) [Explore all 42 Lena Horne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) ## More Nigger quotes > [Nigger Money talks trust me I know what I'm saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trunxbeats/nigger-money-talks-trust-me-i-know-what-i-m-saying/) [Trunxbeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trunxbeats/) > [“Brian darling, I’m really not such an idiot that I don’t realize that if a man calls me a nigger it’s his fault the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nella-larsen/brian-darling-i-m-really-not-such-an-idiot-that-i-don-t-realize-that/) [Nella Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nella-larsen/) > [“He never denied it. He never did anything. He never acted like either a nigger or a white man. That was it. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/he-never-denied-it-he-never-did-anything-he-never-acted-like-either-a/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“Why was "nigger" bleeped out? I mean, "nigger" is a word that exists. People use it. It is part of America. It has caused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/why-was-nigger-bleeped-out-i-mean-nigger-is-a-word-that-exists-people/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [“Dear Momma―Wherever you are, if ever you hear the word "nigger" again, remember they are advertising my book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gregory/dear-momma-wherever-you-are-if-ever-you-hear-the-word-nigger-again/) [Dick Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gregory/) > [“Both Richard and I sat silent and watched Jennifer Lee . She came across the room and over to us and swept our chess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-brown/both-richard-and-i-sat-silent-and-watched-jennifer-lee-she-came/) [Cecil Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-brown/) > [“Stagolee was, undoubtedly and without question, the baddest nigger that ever lived. Stagolee was so bad that the flies wouldn't even fly around his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-lester/stagolee-was-undoubtedly-and-without-question-the-baddest-nigger-that/) [Julius Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-lester/) > [“Nigger-eye Berries cast dark Hooks -- Black sweet blood mouthfuls, Shadows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/nigger-eye-berries-cast-dark-hooks-black-sweet-blood-mouthfuls-shadows/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [“Beloved, there is something black folk fear, whether you can see it or not, whether some of us black folk will say it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/beloved-there-is-something-black-folk-fear-whether-you-can-see-it-or/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [“I Ain't Got No Quarrel With The VietCong...No VietCong Ever Called Me Nigger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-ain-t-got-no-quarrel-with-the-vietcong-no-vietcong-ever-called-me/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [“it was worth half-cent to kill a "nigger", and a half-cent to bury one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/it-was-worth-half-cent-to-kill-a-nigger-and-a-half-cent-to-bury-one/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“This is just a nigger talkin', an' a busted-back nigger. So it don't mean nothing, see? You couldn't remember it anyways. I seen it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/this-is-just-a-nigger-talkin-an-a-busted-back-nigger-so-it-don-t-mean/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [MINSTREL, adj. Formerly a poet, singer or musician; now a nigger with a color less than skin deep and a humor more than flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/minstrel-adj-formerly-a-poet-singer-or-musician-now-a-nigger-with-a/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“The art of rap is deceptive. It seems so straightforward and personal and real that people read it completely literally, as raw testimony or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/the-art-of-rap-is-deceptive-it-seems-so-straightforward-and-personal/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Wait a minute motherfucker! You gotta twerk a little It didn't work to me, Now turn back and make a try Now pick it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wait-a-minute-motherfucker-you-gotta-twerk-a-little-it-didn-t-work-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 87 Nigger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nigger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I disconnected myself to shield myself from people who would sway to my songs in the club and call me 'nigger' in the street. 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