--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was responsible for having a clean…" description: "\"I was responsible for having a clean image. I wanted people to have respect for black people.\" — Leslie Uggams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d15/leslie-uggams-6290_black_i-was-responsible-for-having-a-clean-ima_645139.jpg" --- # I was responsible for having a clean image. I wanted… ![“I was responsible for having a clean image. I wanted people to have respect for black people.” quote by Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d15/leslie-uggams-6290_black_i-was-responsible-for-having-a-clean-ima_645139.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d15/leslie-uggams-6290_black_i-was-responsible-for-having-a-clean-ima_645139.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d15/leslie-uggams-6290_black_i-was-responsible-for-having-a-clean-ima_645139.jpg) > “I was responsible for having a clean image. I wanted people to have respect for black people.” [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maintaining a respectful image promotes dignity for marginalized groups. **In simple terms:** Respectful representation matters. Key Takeaway Champion positive representation. Themes respect representation racial dignity Mood thoughtful empowering Type social ethical When to use this quote - advertising - public speaking - branding - community leadership Key Concepts media influence social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure authenticity while managing image? - What actions reinforce respect in media? A Different Perspective Balancing authenticity with public expectations can be tough. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-people/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/image/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not trying to clean my image to make anyone happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trace-cyrus/i-m-not-trying-to-clean-my-image-to-make-anyone-happy/) [Trace Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trace-cyrus/) > [One thing that the white man can never give the black man is self respect. The black man in the ghettos, have to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/one-thing-that-the-white-man-can-never-give-the-black-man-is-self/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [One must respect black. Nothing prostitutes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odilon-redon/one-must-respect-black-nothing-prostitutes-it/) [Odilon Redon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odilon-redon/) > [When a man comes to me, I accept him at his best, not at his worst. Why make so much ado? When a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/when-a-man-comes-to-me-i-accept-him-at-his-best-not-at-his-worst-why/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [How can we teach our children to respect Black women if Black women don't respect Black women?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/how-can-we-teach-our-children-to-respect-black-women-if-black-women/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [When a country doesn't respect Black lives, maybe it doesn't deserve to be entertained by Black athletes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemele-hill/when-a-country-doesn-t-respect-black-lives-maybe-it-doesn-t-deserve/) [Jemele Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemele-hill/) > [The images that people see in the media of black people - whether journalistic or narrative - remain horrible. And those images, combined with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-lennix/the-images-that-people-see-in-the-media-of-black-people-whether/) [Harry Lennix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-lennix/) > [I have spoken all over the world and I have great respect for Muslims, I have great respect for the African people, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duke/i-have-spoken-all-over-the-world-and-i-have-great-respect-for-muslims/) [David Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duke/) > [A lot of us have the same goals of wanting a great future for our kids and good paying jobs and having clean water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/a-lot-of-us-have-the-same-goals-of-wanting-a-great-future-for-our/) [Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/) > [I have spent the greater part of my life in a hotel room with seven or eight kids, looking after everyone, sorting out fights,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-lee-miller/i-have-spent-the-greater-part-of-my-life-in-a-hotel-room-with-seven/) [Abby Lee Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-lee-miller/) > [Black History is enjoying the life of our ancestors who paved the way for every African-American. No matter what color you are, the history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-mosby/black-history-is-enjoying-the-life-of-our-ancestors-who-paved-the-way/) Bernice Mosby > [We dream of having a clean house - but who dreams of actually doing the cleaning? We don't have to dream about doing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/we-dream-of-having-a-clean-house-but-who-dreams-of-actually-doing-the/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [Having a dirty mind is okay, but having a clean heart is important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/having-a-dirty-mind-is-okay-but-having-a-clean-heart-is-important/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I just personally really enjoy having a clean body. I shower twice a day. I just like feeling clean and feeling smooth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-sheckler/i-just-personally-really-enjoy-having-a-clean-body-i-shower-twice-a/) [Ryan Sheckler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-sheckler/) > [I couldn't imagine not having clean water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-tucker/i-couldn-t-imagine-not-having-clean-water/) [Chris Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-tucker/) ## More by Leslie Uggams > [I'm all over YouTube.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/i-m-all-over-youtube/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [My career has been a series of breaking through barriers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/my-career-has-been-a-series-of-breaking-through-barriers/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [I was supposedly named after the Bette Davis character in 'The Letter' by my sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/i-was-supposedly-named-after-the-bette-davis-character-in-the-letter/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [Anything can happen in theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/anything-can-happen-in-theater/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [I just love 'Happy.' I have a little grand baby who loves that song. We'll play it and dance around. Pharrell's conveyed a feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/i-just-love-happy-i-have-a-little-grand-baby-who-loves-that-song-we/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [My Aunt Eloise Uggams was my first inspiration. She performed on Broadway, and when I was 10 years old, I saw her in 'Porgy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/my-aunt-eloise-uggams-was-my-first-inspiration-she-performed-on/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [Oh, I love Lady Gaga - I think she's so fascinating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/oh-i-love-lady-gaga-i-think-she-s-so-fascinating/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [Blues and jazz is our American music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/blues-and-jazz-is-our-american-music/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [It's kind of nice to be acknowledged, and that people think enough of you that they want to give you something. So I appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/it-s-kind-of-nice-to-be-acknowledged-and-that-people-think-enough-of/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [I do so many things it has a tendency to confuse people. They didn't know where to put me. So they put me nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/i-do-so-many-things-it-has-a-tendency-to-confuse-people-they-didn-t/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [Black theaters are not given nearly enough attention. We need these theaters to be aware of each other, to help each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/black-theaters-are-not-given-nearly-enough-attention-we-need-these/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [Fresh air, sunshine, exercise, and a change of scenery can be very refreshing and just the lift you need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/fresh-air-sunshine-exercise-and-a-change-of-scenery-can-be-very/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [I respect the gift I was given so I take care of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/i-respect-the-gift-i-was-given-so-i-take-care-of-it/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [Since I turned 18, I have never missed a vote for president. If you don't vote, you don't get the right to complain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/since-i-turned-18-i-have-never-missed-a-vote-for-president-if-you-don/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [We need more Black artists writing, performing, directing, and producing Black stories on the main stage - and not just in February!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/we-need-more-black-artists-writing-performing-directing-and-producing/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) [Explore all 99 Leslie Uggams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) ## 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. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [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/) > [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": "I was responsible for having a clean image. 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