--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do not feel inhibited or bound by what…" description: "\"I do not feel inhibited or bound by what I am. That does not mean that I have never had bad scenes relating to being Black and/or a woman, it means tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/lucille-clifton-12072_black_i-do-not-feel-inhibited-or-bound-by-what_1949885.jpg" --- # I do not feel inhibited or bound by what I am. That does… ![“I do not feel inhibited or bound by what I am. That does not mean that I have never had bad scenes relating to being Black and/or a woman, it means that other people’s craziness has not managed to make me crazy.” quote by Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/lucille-clifton-12072_black_i-do-not-feel-inhibited-or-bound-by-what_1949885.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/lucille-clifton-12072_black_i-do-not-feel-inhibited-or-bound-by-what_1949885.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/lucille-clifton-12072_black_i-do-not-feel-inhibited-or-bound-by-what_1949885.jpg) > “I do not feel inhibited or bound by what I am. That does not mean that I have never had bad scenes relating to being Black and/or a woman, it means that other people’s craziness has not managed to make me crazy.” [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self-identity transcends external oppression; inner strength remains despite societal madness. **In simple terms:** Identity is internal, not defined by others. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner resilience. Themes identity resilience race gender Mood empowering reflective Type poetic inspirational When to use this quote - racial discrimination - gender bias - personal trauma - creative expression Key Concepts intersectionality psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain self‑worth amid oppression? - What practices strengthen inner freedom? A Different Perspective External pressures can still impact mental health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Craziness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craziness/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Diversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diversity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Social justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-justice/) ## Related quotes > [Don't ever feel inhibited. It's harder to censor yourself than to just be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-van-etten/don-t-ever-feel-inhibited-it-s-harder-to-censor-yourself-than-to-just/) [Sharon Van Etten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-van-etten/) > [I spent too many years of my life stressing over and struggling with my sexuality. But it was a valuable lesson. I realised that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/i-spent-too-many-years-of-my-life-stressing-over-and-struggling-with/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [In the end, as any successful teacher will tell you, you can only teach the things that you are. If we practice racism then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/in-the-end-as-any-successful-teacher-will-tell-you-you-can-only-teach/) [Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/) > [In spite of the honestest efforts to annihilate my I-ity, or merge it in what the world doubtless considers my better half, I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-welsh-carlyle/in-spite-of-the-honestest-efforts-to-annihilate-my-i-ity-or-merge-it/) [Jane Welsh Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-welsh-carlyle/) > [Chivalry is a poor substitute for justice, if one cannot have both. Chivalry is something like the icing on the cake, sweet but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-l-mcclung/chivalry-is-a-poor-substitute-for-justice-if-one-cannot-have-both/) [Nellie L. McClung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-l-mcclung/) > [“Don't assume you understand Naskar, unless you've left your seat to the elderly on a bus, joined the religious festivities of a neighbor from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/don-t-assume-you-understand-naskar-unless-you-ve-left-your-seat-to/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [It is a worthy thing to fight for one's freedom; it is another sight finer to fight for another man's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-is-a-worthy-thing-to-fight-for-one-s-freedom-it-is-another-sight/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [All of our people all over the country-except the pure-blooded Indians-are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, including even those who came over here on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/all-of-our-people-all-over-the-country-except-the-pure-blooded/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [Changes are inseparable from democracy. To defend democracy is to defend the possibility of change; in turn, changes alone can strengthen democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/changes-are-inseparable-from-democracy-to-defend-democracy-is-to/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [No poor, rural, weak, or black person should ever again have to bear the additional burden of being deprived of the opportunity for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/no-poor-rural-weak-or-black-person-should-ever-again-have-to-bear-the/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-real-fault-is-to-have-faults-and-not-amend-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The Americans say that we are ungrateful-but I ask them for heaven's sake, what should we be grateful to them for-for murdering our fathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/the-americans-say-that-we-are-ungrateful-but-i-ask-them-for-heaven-s/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [Why should anyone think a white skin superior in evaluating the qualities of human life? I did not really admire a white skin so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/why-should-anyone-think-a-white-skin-superior-in-evaluating-the/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [Have therefore zeal to better thyself and then mayst thou have zeal to thy neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/have-therefore-zeal-to-better-thyself-and-then-mayst-thou-have-zeal/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [The teacher is one who makes two ideas grow where only one grew before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-teacher-is-one-who-makes-two-ideas-grow-where-only-one-grew-before/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## More by Lucille Clifton > [wishes for sons by Lucille Clifton i wish them cramps. i wish them a strange town and the last tampon. I wish them no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/wishes-for-sons-by-lucille-clifton-i-wish-them-cramps-i-wish-them-a/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [“these hips are big hips. they need space to move around in. they don't fit into little petty places.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/these-hips-are-big-hips-they-need-space-to-move-around-in-they-don-t/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [“a tongue blistered with smiling”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/a-tongue-blistered-with-smiling/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [Intellect doesn't translate across cultures; intuition does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/intellect-doesn-t-translate-across-cultures-intuition-does/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [Poetry is a matter of life, not just a matter of language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/poetry-is-a-matter-of-life-not-just-a-matter-of-language/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [I keep hearing tree talk water words and i keep knowing what they mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/i-keep-hearing-tree-talk-water-words-and-i-keep-knowing-what-they-mean/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [You might as well answer the door, my child, the truth is furiously knocking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/you-might-as-well-answer-the-door-my-child-the-truth-is-furiously/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [“walked erect out of my sleep”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/walked-erect-out-of-my-sleep/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [In the bigger scheme of things the universe is not asking us to do something, the universe is asking us to be something. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/in-the-bigger-scheme-of-things-the-universe-is-not-asking-us-to-do/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [If i should enter the house and speak with my own voice, at last, about its awful furnitutre, pulling apart the covering over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/if-i-should-enter-the-house-and-speak-with-my-own-voice-at-last-about/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [telling the truth about children's lives is radical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/telling-the-truth-about-children-s-lives-is-radical/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [To be a good poet, you must care more about the writing, than the writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/to-be-a-good-poet-you-must-care-more-about-the-writing-than-the-writer/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [“i am rejuvenated bones rising from the dear floor where they found you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/i-am-rejuvenated-bones-rising-from-the-dear-floor-where-they-found-you/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [“they will empty your eyes of everything you love”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/they-will-empty-your-eyes-of-everything-you-love/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [All people, even one's own children, come with baggage. When they're little, you have to help them carry it. But when they grow up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/all-people-even-one-s-own-children-come-with-baggage-when-they-re/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) [Explore all 56 Lucille Clifton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) ## 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 do not feel inhibited or bound by what I am. That does not mean that I have never had bad scenes relating to being Black and/or a woman, it means that other people’s craziness has not managed to make me crazy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lucille Clifton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/i-do-not-feel-inhibited-or-bound-by-what-i-am-that-does-not-mean-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Black" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/i-do-not-feel-inhibited-or-bound-by-what-i-am-that-does-not-mean-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/lucille-clifton-12072_black_i-do-not-feel-inhibited-or-bound-by-what_1949885.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/lucille-clifton-12072_black_i-do-not-feel-inhibited-or-bound-by-what_1949885.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/lucille-clifton-12072_black_i-do-not-feel-inhibited-or-bound-by-what_1949885.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I do not feel inhibited or bound by what I am. That does not mean that I have never had bad scenes relating…” — Lucille Clifton", "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": "Lucille Clifton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I do not feel inhibited or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/i-do-not-feel-inhibited-or-bound-by-what-i-am-that-does-not-mean-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/i-do-not-feel-inhibited-or-bound-by-what-i-am-that-does-not-mean-that/#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 } } ] } ```