--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know some first-class Negroes. I also…" description: "\"“I know some first-class Negroes. I also know some second-rate white people.”\" — Lesley Kagen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/lesley-kagen-21996_negroes_i-know-some-first-class-negroes-i-also-k_2759438.jpg" --- # I know some first-class Negroes. I also know some… ![“I know some first-class Negroes. I also know some second-rate white people.” quote by Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/lesley-kagen-21996_negroes_i-know-some-first-class-negroes-i-also-k_2759438.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/lesley-kagen-21996_negroes_i-know-some-first-class-negroes-i-also-k_2759438.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/144/lesley-kagen-21996_negroes_i-know-some-first-class-negroes-i-also-k_2759438.jpg) > ““I know some first-class Negroes. I also know some second-rate white people.”” [Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observations on racial and social hierarchies highlight contradictions in personal relationships. **In simple terms:** People can be both privileged and disadvantaged. Key Takeaway Recognize complex social dynamics. Themes race class relationships Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - workplace - friendship - community organizing Key Concepts social hierarchy bias intersectionality Questions to Reflect On - How do you navigate mixed social groups? - What biases affect your judgments? A Different Perspective Risk of overgeneralizing individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class Negroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-negroes-3124204/) [Negroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negroes/) [Negroes Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negroes-know-1088465/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Second rate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-rate/) [White people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-people/) ## Related quotes > [You have the upper class Negroes who are the modern day Uncle Toms or the 20th century Uncle Toms. They don't wear a handkerchief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/you-have-the-upper-class-negroes-who-are-the-modern-day-uncle-toms-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [“The American Negro has the great advantage of having never believed the collection of myths to which white Americans cling: that their ancestors were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/the-american-negro-has-the-great-advantage-of-having-never-believed/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“We need a powerful sense of determination to banish the ugly blemish of racism scarring the image of America. We can, of course, try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr-2/we-need-a-powerful-sense-of-determination-to-banish-the-ugly-blemish/) [Martin Luther King Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr-2/) > [“In 1856 the Know-Nothings even ran a former president, Millard Fillmore, as their presidential candidate. "Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/in-1856-the-know-nothings-even-ran-a-former-president-millard/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr-2/) > [There was not a single Negro slave owner who did not know dozens of Negroes just as capable of learning and efficiency as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/there-was-not-a-single-negro-slave-owner-who-did-not-know-dozens-of/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [Those type of whites who are always going to jail with Negroes are the ones who tell Negroes to be loving and be kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/those-type-of-whites-who-are-always-going-to-jail-with-negroes-are/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [As a race, the Negroes are not lazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/as-a-race-the-negroes-are-not-lazy/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [If white people are constantly told how culturally different their Asian neighbors are, and if Asians are told to be vigilant against white racism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/if-white-people-are-constantly-told-how-culturally-different-their/) [Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/) > [I am not antiwhite, because I understand that white people, like black ones, are victims of a racist society. They are products of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-am-not-antiwhite-because-i-understand-that-white-people-like-black/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I think when people talk about race relations in America, they talk about African-American and white people. Asians are not often brought into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/i-think-when-people-talk-about-race-relations-in-america-they-talk/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [I think racial justice - and addressing the sick and enduring legacy of structural racism - remains one of the greatest challenges of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-kohn/i-think-racial-justice-and-addressing-the-sick-and-enduring-legacy-of/) [Sally Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-kohn/) > [“The poor and people of color are yoked to the abject; white people use its exploration as a path toward self-liberation. It’s a valid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-helen-petersen/the-poor-and-people-of-color-are-yoked-to-the-abject-white-people-use/) [Anne Helen Petersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-helen-petersen/) > [“In the beginning—and neither can this be overstated—a Negro just cannot believe that white people are treating him as they do; he does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-the-beginning-and-neither-can-this-be-overstated-a-negro-just/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“Unless institutional power reinforces the hurt and prejudice suffered by a group, it is not oppression. By definition, a person of color cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-stout/unless-institutional-power-reinforces-the-hurt-and-prejudice-suffered/) [Linda Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-stout/) > [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/) ## More by Lesley Kagen > [“...things can happen when you least expect them so you always gotta be prepared. And pay attention to the details. The devil is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-kagen/things-can-happen-when-you-least-expect-them-so-you-always-gotta-be/) [Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/) > [“Life, it is not simple like a garden, where flowers are always flowers and weeds are always weeds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-kagen/life-it-is-not-simple-like-a-garden-where-flowers-are-always-flowers/) [Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/) > [“I know from vast experience that fear talks a lot louder than courage. I need to listen to that other voice inside me, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-kagen/i-know-from-vast-experience-that-fear-talks-a-lot-louder-than-courage/) [Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/) > [ “...\[Joseph\] and the Virgin Mary got turned away from the inn and had to go sleep in the manger. (Not with the manager, like… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-kagen/joseph-and-the-virgin-mary-got-turned-away-from-the-inn-and-had-to-go/) [Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/) > [“Troo hits the hay every night like a bale falling out of our old barn loft.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-kagen/troo-hits-the-hay-every-night-like-a-bale-falling-out-of-our-old-barn/) [Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/) > [“People can be so cruel to the different.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-kagen/people-can-be-so-cruel-to-the-different/) [Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/) > [“...And he shouldn't have talked to Mama in the hurtful ways he did neither. Calling her despicable names because she wanted to do things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-kagen/and-he-shouldn-t-have-talked-to-mama-in-the-hurtful-ways-he-did/) [Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/) > [“When I was sure she was asleep, I got up and went into Mother's room and pulled her yellow nightie out from the bottom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-kagen/when-i-was-sure-she-was-asleep-i-got-up-and-went-into-mother-s-room/) [Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/) > [“...things happen when you least expect them. Things that can change your whole life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-kagen/things-happen-when-you-least-expect-them-things-that-can-change-your/) [Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/) > [“His mean justified his end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-kagen/his-mean-justified-his-end/) [Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/) > [“So might I suggest at your earliest convenience that you pay a visit to the Okins Funeral Salon to make arrangements?" "Why'd I wanna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-kagen/so-might-i-suggest-at-your-earliest-convenience-that-you-pay-a-visit/) [Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/) > [“--I wouldn't throw that cat out of bed. --When did you get a cat?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-kagen/i-wouldn-t-throw-that-cat-out-of-bed-when-did-you-get-a-cat/) [Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/) > [“Grievers’ hearts can only take so much before they bust into a million little pieces.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-kagen/grievers-hearts-can-only-take-so-much-before-they-bust-into-a-million/) [Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/) > [“Ethel Jackson was the cool side of my pillow when I had a fever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-kagen/ethel-jackson-was-the-cool-side-of-my-pillow-when-i-had-a-fever/) [Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/) > [“If only. -- You got to admit, standing alone those words are pretty awful, but married together like that, they must be two of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-kagen/if-only-you-got-to-admit-standing-alone-those-words-are-pretty-awful/) [Lesley Kagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/) [Explore all 28 Lesley Kagen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-kagen/) ## More Negroes quotes > [Those type of whites who are always going to jail with Negroes are the ones who tell Negroes to be loving and be kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/those-type-of-whites-who-are-always-going-to-jail-with-negroes-are/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [The people of the Southern States now own near five millions of these negroes, and they are worth to them near three millions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-people-of-the-southern-states-now-own-near-five-millions-of-these/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As a race, the Negroes are not lazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/as-a-race-the-negroes-are-not-lazy/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [“He was suggesting that all Negroes were held in a state of supreme tension between the difficult, dangerous relationship in which they stood to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/he-was-suggesting-that-all-negroes-were-held-in-a-state-of-supreme/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [Now, just a word about the poor Negroes... They're here. They've got to be cared for... The poor Negroes have got to live, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-long/now-just-a-word-about-the-poor-negroes-they-re-here-they-ve-got-to-be/) [Huey Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-long/) > [“I have received the favor of your letter of August 17th, and with it the volume you were so kind as to send me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-have-received-the-favor-of-your-letter-of-august-17th-and-with-it/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Ethiopians, that is, Negroes, gave the world the first idea of right and wrong and thus laid the basis of religion and all true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ethiopians-that-is-negroes-gave-the-world-the-first-idea-of-right-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your ancestors dragged these black people from their homes by force; and in the white man's quest for wealth and an easy life they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/your-ancestors-dragged-these-black-people-from-their-homes-by-force/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I saw in Chicago, on the street where I was visiting my sister-in-law, this "Urban Renewal" and it means one thing: "Negro removal." But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/i-saw-in-chicago-on-the-street-where-i-was-visiting-my-sister-in-law/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [It should seem that Negroes, of all Americans, would be found in the Free-thought fold, since they have suffered more than any other class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-harrison/it-should-seem-that-negroes-of-all-americans-would-be-found-in-the/) [Hubert Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-harrison/) > [Offhand, the only North American writers I can think of who have come from a background of rural poverty and gone on to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-nowlan/offhand-the-only-north-american-writers-i-can-think-of-who-have-come/) [Alden Nowlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-nowlan/) > [Today, Negroes play on every big league club and in every minor league. With millions of other Negroes in other walks of life, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-robinson/today-negroes-play-on-every-big-league-club-and-in-every-minor-league/) [Jackie Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-robinson/) > [Good education, housing and jobs are imperatives for the Negroes, and I shall support them in their fight to win these objectives, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/good-education-housing-and-jobs-are-imperatives-for-the-negroes-and-i/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [We could get more action in the South because the Negroes had a feeling that they were being oppressed. But you take New York,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurgood-marshall/we-could-get-more-action-in-the-south-because-the-negroes-had-a/) [Thurgood Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurgood-marshall/) > [There are a million Negroes in Mississippi. I think theyll take care of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-meredith/there-are-a-million-negroes-in-mississippi-i-think-theyll-take-care/) [James Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-meredith/) [Browse all 138 Negroes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negroes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I know some first-class Negroes. 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