--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While I was able to pass as white as soon…" description: "\"While I was able to pass as white as soon as I came to America, this was not really possible while I was growing up, as it was pretty obvious that I wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/lexi-alexander-4779_america_while-i-was-able-to-pass-as-white-as-soo_2153200.jpg" --- # While I was able to pass as white as soon as I came to… ![“While I was able to pass as white as soon as I came to America, this was not really possible while I was growing up, as it was pretty obvious that I wasn't 'all German.' So my privilege was that in America, I could conveniently withhold one of my bloodlines and avoid racism and discrimination…” quote by Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/lexi-alexander-4779_america_while-i-was-able-to-pass-as-white-as-soo_2153200.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/lexi-alexander-4779_america_while-i-was-able-to-pass-as-white-as-soo_2153200.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/274/lexi-alexander-4779_america_while-i-was-able-to-pass-as-white-as-soo_2153200.jpg) > “While I was able to pass as white as soon as I came to America, this was not really possible while I was growing up, as it was pretty obvious that I wasn't 'all German.' So my privilege was that in America, I could conveniently withhold one of my bloodlines and avoid racism and discrimination. That is not a privilege most people of color have.” [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author describes how passing as white in America was possible by hiding part of their heritage, a privilege not available to most people of color. **In simple terms:** Hiding heritage gave a temporary racial advantage. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden privileges and their impact. Themes identity race privilege assimilation Mood reflective critical empathetic Type personal social commentary When to use this quote - Immigration experience - workplace interactions - social gatherings - policy discussions Key Concepts Social construct racial passing intersectionality Questions to Reflect On - How does hidden privilege affect personal relationships? - What responsibilities come with recognizing such privilege? A Different Perspective Privilege can be situational and not universally accessible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [It is our duty and our privilege to keep America moving forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-frist/it-is-our-duty-and-our-privilege-to-keep-america-moving-forward/) [Bill Frist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-frist/) > [I mean, I enjoy my work as an actor. But to make a difference in people's lives through advocacy and through supporting research -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/i-mean-i-enjoy-my-work-as-an-actor-but-to-make-a-difference-in-people/) [Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/) > [I didn't grow up with money, so I understand that getting paid to do something that you love is such a privilege that most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-stalter/i-didn-t-grow-up-with-money-so-i-understand-that-getting-paid-to-do/) [Megan Stalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-stalter/) > [Being a parent is not only a full time job, but a privilege that most people don't even realize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-a-parent-is-not-only-a-full-time-job-but-a-privilege-that-most/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ \[Being unique\] gives so much privilege to people who can make it, rather than having some moral and aesthetic discussions. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/being-unique-gives-so-much-privilege-to-people-who-can-make-it-rather/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [You cannot talk about race without talking about privilege. And when people start talking about privilege, they get paralyzed by shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/you-cannot-talk-about-race-without-talking-about-privilege-and-when/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Connectivity just can't be a privilege for people in the richest countries. We believe that connecting everyone in the world is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/connectivity-just-can-t-be-a-privilege-for-people-in-the-richest/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [“A grande passion is the privilege of people who have nothing to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/a-grande-passion-is-the-privilege-of-people-who-have-nothing-to-do/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Too many people have become self-appointed privilege police, patrolling the halls of discourse, ready to remind people of their privilege whether those people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/too-many-people-have-become-self-appointed-privilege-police/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [Being 'out and proud' can feel like a real luxury of Western culture, where people are often white and see existing white gay people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-france/being-out-and-proud-can-feel-like-a-real-luxury-of-western-culture/) [Tan France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-france/) > [I feel very grateful that for some reason I was raised to believe that I had permission to explore the creative world. I'm very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-hegarty/i-feel-very-grateful-that-for-some-reason-i-was-raised-to-believe/) [Antony Hegarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-hegarty/) > [Love is not a right. It's a privilege and some people don't deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-weaver/love-is-not-a-right-it-s-a-privilege-and-some-people-don-t-deserve-it/) Darius Weaver > [When I first arrived here, after spending years as a competitive fighter and training U.S. Marines in hand-to-hand combat, Hollywood is the last place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/when-i-first-arrived-here-after-spending-years-as-a-competitive/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) ## More by Lexi Alexander > [It's almost comical how un-liberal liberal Hollywood is when it comes to fighting gender and racial bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/it-s-almost-comical-how-un-liberal-liberal-hollywood-is-when-it-comes/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [Everybody likes to drink a Coke once in a while; it's when we run out of everything else to drink and we're only left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/everybody-likes-to-drink-a-coke-once-in-a-while-it-s-when-we-run-out/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [When I first made 'Green Street' and I was considered a hot director, I pitched everybody, but there was always this feeling that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/when-i-first-made-green-street-and-i-was-considered-a-hot-director-i/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [If someone is poor in India, they should be able to watch the same films as rich people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/if-someone-is-poor-in-india-they-should-be-able-to-watch-the-same/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [I believe that we have a responsibility to make culture available for all people, not only those who can afford to go to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/i-believe-that-we-have-a-responsibility-to-make-culture-available-for/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [I truly believe that if I would make a bad film, I might be walking into director's jail and never out. And that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/i-truly-believe-that-if-i-would-make-a-bad-film-i-might-be-walking/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [In terms of writing and developing, TV is very open because TV needs stories. They need new pitches, and they need new ideas. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/in-terms-of-writing-and-developing-tv-is-very-open-because-tv-needs/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [I like doing violent movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/i-like-doing-violent-movies/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [Please dox me. You don't even need to dox me - I'll give you my address and wait for you by my doorstep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/please-dox-me-you-don-t-even-need-to-dox-me-i-ll-give-you-my-address/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [Frank Castle knows only two sides: Good and Evil. There is no grey zone for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/frank-castle-knows-only-two-sides-good-and-evil-there-is-no-grey-zone/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [As someone who grew up in Europe, I don't look at TV and automatically think of a primetime network series, created by a staff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/as-someone-who-grew-up-in-europe-i-don-t-look-at-tv-and-automatically/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [When I first arrived here, after spending years as a competitive fighter and training U.S. Marines in hand-to-hand combat, Hollywood is the last place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/when-i-first-arrived-here-after-spending-years-as-a-competitive/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [If women choose guerilla style filmmaking or new media productions, etc., all power to them. But if they're there because 'Big Hollywood' won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/if-women-choose-guerilla-style-filmmaking-or-new-media-productions/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [For every IP block, DRM, and who-knows-what security feature Hollywood spends thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours on, some piracy kid will undo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/for-every-ip-block-drm-and-who-knows-what-security-feature-hollywood/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [The people at Cabot Guns are a rare breed of geniuses and artists in a vast gun world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/the-people-at-cabot-guns-are-a-rare-breed-of-geniuses-and-artists-in/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) [Explore all 106 Lexi Alexander quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [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/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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