--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: White folks still in the lead." description: "\"White folks still in the lead.\" — Louis Armstrong" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/louis-armstrong-7258_folks_white-folks-still-in-the-lead-1965645_1965645.png" --- # White folks still in the lead. ![“White folks still in the lead.” quote by Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/louis-armstrong-7258_folks_white-folks-still-in-the-lead-1965645_1965645.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/louis-armstrong-7258_folks_white-folks-still-in-the-lead-1965645_1965645.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/louis-armstrong-7258_folks_white-folks-still-in-the-lead-1965645_1965645.png) > “White folks still in the lead.” [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A statement highlighting that white people continue to dominate or lead, implying racial disparity. **In simple terms:** White people still lead. Key Takeaway Recognize and address racial inequities. Themes race leadership inequality Mood critical reflective Type social political When to use this quote - workplace - politics - media representation Key Concepts social justice power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can leadership become more inclusive? - What systemic changes are needed? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Folks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folks/) [Folks Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folks-lead-3269817/) [Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White Folks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-folks/) ## Related quotes > [As soon as white folks say a play's good, the theater is jammed with blacks and whites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-wilson/as-soon-as-white-folks-say-a-play-s-good-the-theater-is-jammed-with/) [August Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-wilson/) > [Now they're calling taking drugs an epidemic - that's cos white folks are doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-pryor/now-they-re-calling-taking-drugs-an-epidemic-that-s-cos-white-folks/) [Richard Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-pryor/) > [I thought, maybe the difference between white folks and colored is just this matter of reading and writing. I made up my mind I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcleod-bethune/i-thought-maybe-the-difference-between-white-folks-and-colored-is/) [Mary McLeod Bethune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcleod-bethune/) > [What happens to Black Folks today, happens to White Folks tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gregory/what-happens-to-black-folks-today-happens-to-white-folks-tomorrow/) [Dick Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gregory/) > [Dealing with race is about educating white folks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/dealing-with-race-is-about-educating-white-folks/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [“We white folks cling to such an abiding sense of entitlement that when things go amiss, we cannot let go of this tortuously sunny,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/we-white-folks-cling-to-such-an-abiding-sense-of-entitlement-that/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [“We do wish they’d have the same fervor and monetary backing for, say, a group of black legal gun carriers in Ferguson, Missouri, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trae-crowder/we-do-wish-they-d-have-the-same-fervor-and-monetary-backing-for-say-a/) [Trae Crowder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trae-crowder/) > [“Because I'm not a white boy, I'm not white enough for white folks. And because I wasn't born into the middle class, I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vershawn-ashanti-young/because-i-m-not-a-white-boy-i-m-not-white-enough-for-white-folks-and/) [Vershawn Ashanti Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vershawn-ashanti-young/) > [“I swear that white folks need to just shut the hell up sometimes. Y'all make it hard for everybody.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/i-swear-that-white-folks-need-to-just-shut-the-hell-up-sometimes-y/) [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) > [“Lots of liberal white folks are looking for black friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/lots-of-liberal-white-folks-are-looking-for-black-friends/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [“White folks have spent years giving Black folks their freedom on paper, but deep down they still expect us to say yes, massuh and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/white-folks-have-spent-years-giving-black-folks-their-freedom-on/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [On TV, as in life, white folks are allowed to make mistakes, but usually, black people aren't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-orji/on-tv-as-in-life-white-folks-are-allowed-to-make-mistakes-but-usually/) [Yvonne Orji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-orji/) > [“They walked off down the hall in the direction of a sign that said Colored Waiting Room. Billie guessed white folks didn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-hussey/they-walked-off-down-the-hall-in-the-direction-of-a-sign-that-said/) [Elaine Hussey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-hussey/) > [“Whether they are able to enact it as lived practice or not, many white folks active in anti-racist struggle today are able to acknowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/whether-they-are-able-to-enact-it-as-lived-practice-or-not-many-white/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Got orders from headquarters. They makin' coffins fuh all de white folks. 'Tain't nothin' but cheap pine, but dat's better'n nothin'. Don't dump no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/got-orders-from-headquarters-they-makin-coffins-fuh-all-de-white/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) ## More by Louis Armstrong > [The Brick House was one of the toughest joints I ever played in ... Guys would drink and fight one another like circle saws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/the-brick-house-was-one-of-the-toughest-joints-i-ever-played-in-guys/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [ As many bands as you heard \[in New Orleans\], that's how many bands you heard playing right. I thought I was in Heaven playing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/as-many-bands-as-you-heard-in-new-orleans-that-s-how-many-bands-you/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [There's a thing I've dreamed of all my life, and I'll be damned if it don't look like it's about to come true-to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/there-s-a-thing-i-ve-dreamed-of-all-my-life-and-i-ll-be-damned-if-it/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [ \[Bebop is\] Chinese music. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/bebop-is-chinese-music/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [I've Got the World on a String,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/i-ve-got-the-world-on-a-string/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [Seems to me it ain't the world that's so bad but what we're doing to it, and all I'm saying is: see what a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/seems-to-me-it-ain-t-the-world-that-s-so-bad-but-what-we-re-doing-to/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [Jazz is played from the heart. You can even live by it. Always love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/jazz-is-played-from-the-heart-you-can-even-live-by-it-always-love-it/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky Are also on the faces of people goin' by I see friends shaking hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/the-colors-of-the-rainbow-so-pretty-in-the-sky-are-also-on-the-faces/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [A lotta cats copy the Mona Lisa, but people still line up to see the original.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/a-lotta-cats-copy-the-mona-lisa-but-people-still-line-up-to-see-the/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [If it hadn't been for Jazz, there wouldn't be no rock and roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/if-it-hadn-t-been-for-jazz-there-wouldn-t-be-no-rock-and-roll/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [The memory of things gone is important to a jazz musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/the-memory-of-things-gone-is-important-to-a-jazz-musician/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [And I think to myself what a wonderful world. Oh, yeah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/and-i-think-to-myself-what-a-wonderful-world-oh-yeah/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [You blows who you is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/you-blows-who-you-is/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [When I go to the Gate, I'll play a duet with Gabriel. Yeah, we'll play 'Sleepy Time Down South' and 'Hello, Dolly!.' Then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/when-i-go-to-the-gate-i-ll-play-a-duet-with-gabriel-yeah-we-ll-play/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) > [It really puzzles me to see marijuana connected with narcotics . . . dope and all that crap. It's a thousand times better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/it-really-puzzles-me-to-see-marijuana-connected-with-narcotics-dope/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) [Explore all 92 Louis Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) ## More Folks quotes > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [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/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [My folks tried to make a preacher of me and missed by a narrow margin… I would have made a good one if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/my-folks-tried-to-make-a-preacher-of-me-and-missed-by-a-narrow-margin/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Some of the folks on both sides might be sincere, but it does seem as if it is only the opposition that cares about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/some-of-the-folks-on-both-sides-might-be-sincere-but-it-does-seem-as/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [Sometimes you have to stop telling folks about themselves and leave it up to them to figure out where they went wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-lobbins/sometimes-you-have-to-stop-telling-folks-about-themselves-and-leave/) [Danielle Lobbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-lobbins/) > [The Urban Literate Southern California Sub-Group of the Early Atomic Period has not yet produced a distinct body of folk music of its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hinton/the-urban-literate-southern-california-sub-group-of-the-early-atomic/) [Sam Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hinton/) > [Only two to three per cent of an audience is interested in words and pays attention to lyrics; most of the rest of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stewart/only-two-to-three-per-cent-of-an-audience-is-interested-in-words-and/) [Al Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stewart/) > [Tis e'er the wont of simple folk to prize the deed and o'erlook the motive, and of learned folk to discount the deed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/tis-e-er-the-wont-of-simple-folk-to-prize-the-deed-and-o-erlook-the/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I was very engaged by the folk music movement.Bob Dylan; Joan Baez; Peter, Paul and Mary. And then I sort of discovered world music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-was-very-engaged-by-the-folk-music-movement-bob-dylan-joan-baez/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [I want folks to take horror seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-g-tremblay/i-want-folks-to-take-horror-seriously/) [Paul G. Tremblay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-g-tremblay/) [Browse all 2,417 Folks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "White folks still in the lead.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louis Armstrong" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/white-folks-still-in-the-lead/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Folks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/white-folks-still-in-the-lead/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/louis-armstrong-7258_folks_white-folks-still-in-the-lead-1965645_1965645.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/louis-armstrong-7258_folks_white-folks-still-in-the-lead-1965645_1965645.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/louis-armstrong-7258_folks_white-folks-still-in-the-lead-1965645_1965645.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“White folks still in the lead.” — Louis Armstrong", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Louis Armstrong", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "White folks still in the lead.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/white-folks-still-in-the-lead/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/white-folks-still-in-the-lead/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```