--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Predominantly in the West, if you can…" description: "\"Predominantly in the West, if you can only have creative voices that are either black or white, I'm going to say whatever the f - k I want, because no ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/m-i-a-3418_black_predominantly-in-the-west-if-you-can-onl_1666966.jpg" --- # Predominantly in the West, if you can only have creative… ![“Predominantly in the West, if you can only have creative voices that are either black or white, I'm going to say whatever the f - k I want, because no one's going before you, and if no one's coming after you, I'm just going to be the freakiest of all freaks!” quote by M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/m-i-a-3418_black_predominantly-in-the-west-if-you-can-onl_1666966.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/m-i-a-3418_black_predominantly-in-the-west-if-you-can-onl_1666966.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/m-i-a-3418_black_predominantly-in-the-west-if-you-can-onl_1666966.jpg) > “Predominantly in the West, if you can only have creative voices that are either black or white, I'm going to say whatever the f - k I want, because no one's going before you, and if no one's coming after you, I'm just going to be the freakiest of all freaks!” [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker asserts artistic freedom, rejecting limiting categories and embracing radical self‑expression regardless of others' expectations. **In simple terms:** Embrace radical self‑expression despite expectations Key Takeaway Own your unique voice, ignore limiting labels. Themes artistic freedom identity nonconformity Mood defiant empowering Type manifesto provocative When to use this quote - music performance - public speaking - social media activism Key Concepts cultural critique self‑definition radical authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance boldness with openness? - What are the risks of total artistic an? A Different Perspective Extreme defiance can alienate allies and hinder constructive dialogue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black or white](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-or-white/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative Voices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-voices-608393/) [Freak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freak/) [Freaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freaks/) [Going Freakiest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-freakiest-819799/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Predominantly West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predominantly-west-819798/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Voices Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voices-black-819800/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) ## Related quotes > [I think the best voices, the most creative voices, and the best content always wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-tassler/i-think-the-best-voices-the-most-creative-voices-and-the-best-content/) [Nina Tassler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-tassler/) > [I've seen a lot of Black content creators calling for white folks to stop using the voices of Black folks to make TikToks because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-black-content-creators-calling-for-white-folks-to/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [The goal of some individuals in government is not to hear the voices of Black Americans at all. It's to hear the voices that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-robinson/the-goal-of-some-individuals-in-government-is-not-to-hear-the-voices/) [Mark Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-robinson/) > [I am a longtime fan of 'Freaks and Geeks'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-mcfarland/i-am-a-longtime-fan-of-freaks-and-geeks/) [Hayley McFarland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-mcfarland/) > [Spiders - the way they move freaks me out. It's so malevolent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-smith/spiders-the-way-they-move-freaks-me-out-it-s-so-malevolent/) [Matt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-smith/) > [If you go looking for loonies and religious fanatics and dropouts and freaks, I dare say you'll find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/if-you-go-looking-for-loonies-and-religious-fanatics-and-dropouts-and/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [Freaks and Geeks' was a show where our individuality was really celebrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busy-philipps/freaks-and-geeks-was-a-show-where-our-individuality-was-really/) [Busy Philipps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busy-philipps/) > [I tried to told ya dat most girls really freaks and dis is how they gotta make they money every week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-flip/i-tried-to-told-ya-dat-most-girls-really-freaks-and-dis-is-how-they/) [Lil Flip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-flip/) > [“We are the direct descendants of millions of freaks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-de-sousa/we-are-the-direct-descendants-of-millions-of-freaks/) [Ronnie de Sousa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-de-sousa/) > [“We are all so weird that, really, none of us are. There are seven billion versions of strange on this freak wonder of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/we-are-all-so-weird-that-really-none-of-us-are-there-are-seven/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [What we're most aware of in 'Eight-Legged Freaks' is how similar it is to other movies, a recombinant mutated species itself, the product of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-mitchell/what-we-re-most-aware-of-in-eight-legged-freaks-is-how-similar-it-is/) [Elvis Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-mitchell/) > [We are in the same tent as the clowns and the freaks-that's show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/we-are-in-the-same-tent-as-the-clowns-and-the-freaks-that-s-show/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [Stand-up comedy is a very hard thing on the spirit. There are people who transcend it, like Jack Benny and Steve Martin, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/stand-up-comedy-is-a-very-hard-thing-on-the-spirit-there-are-people/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [“Sally laughed. "When you first told me you were interested in Decebel, I honestly thought that there was no way you two would ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinn-loftis/sally-laughed-when-you-first-told-me-you-were-interested-in-decebel-i/) [Quinn Loftis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinn-loftis/) > [It was a little weird that they were friends. But then, maybe freaks just tended to find each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/it-was-a-little-weird-that-they-were-friends-but-then-maybe-freaks/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) ## More by M.I.A > [I'd be very controversial if I said why, and I don't do controversial anymore. That's too passé. So last year. Being controversial is boring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-d-be-very-controversial-if-i-said-why-and-i-don-t-do-controversial/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [You have to constantly redefine who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/you-have-to-constantly-redefine-who-you-are/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [That's what I miss, being a real human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-s-what-i-miss-being-a-real-human/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [Retirement: a brand new beginning! How wonderful!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/retirement-a-brand-new-beginning-how-wonderful/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [I don't like the idea of spirituality done the way it's done. The only way I could understand it was through creativity, not by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-don-t-like-the-idea-of-spirituality-done-the-way-it-s-done-the-only/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [I felt pissed off because I realized that you have to teach people in a clichéd way how to be happy-and happiness has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-felt-pissed-off-because-i-realized-that-you-have-to-teach-people-in/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [The first 10 years of my life, I lived as 'Matangi.' When I came to England in '86, my first week of school was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/the-first-10-years-of-my-life-i-lived-as-matangi-when-i-came-to/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [My uncle was the first brown person to have a market stall on Petticoat Lane in the 1960s. He worked his way up from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/my-uncle-was-the-first-brown-person-to-have-a-market-stall-on/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [That divide between the rich and poor is so crazy, because even white kids are suffering now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-divide-between-the-rich-and-poor-is-so-crazy-because-even-white/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [Businessmen in society are not going to be the ones that promote anything outside of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/businessmen-in-society-are-not-going-to-be-the-ones-that-promote/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [That's what New York is like - you can't have real art happen in an institution because rich people can make the world stop.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/that-s-what-new-york-is-like-you-can-t-have-real-art-happen-in-an/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [I feel like a mirror reflecting back everyones perception of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-feel-like-a-mirror-reflecting-back-everyones-perception-of-me/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [In England right now you're not good enough until you get validated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/in-england-right-now-you-re-not-good-enough-until-you-get-validated/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [I'm still working out my opinions - it's always a question mark. I leave loads of space open, and people don't like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-m-still-working-out-my-opinions-it-s-always-a-question-mark-i-leave/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) > [Basically, when I went to school in Sri Lanka from age five onward, the classes there were sometimes sorted into a hierarchy of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/basically-when-i-went-to-school-in-sri-lanka-from-age-five-onward-the/) [M.I.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) [Explore all 131 M.I.A quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Predominantly in the West, if you can only have creative voices that are either black or white, I'm going to say whatever the f - k I want, because no one's going before you, and if no one's coming after you, I'm just going to be the freakiest of all freaks!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M.I.A" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/predominantly-in-the-west-if-you-can-only-have-creative-voices-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Black" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/predominantly-in-the-west-if-you-can-only-have-creative-voices-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/m-i-a-3418_black_predominantly-in-the-west-if-you-can-onl_1666966.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/m-i-a-3418_black_predominantly-in-the-west-if-you-can-onl_1666966.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25b/m-i-a-3418_black_predominantly-in-the-west-if-you-can-onl_1666966.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Predominantly in the West, if you can only have creative voices that are either black or white, I'm going to…” — M.I.A", "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": "M.I.A", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-i-a/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Predominantly in the West, if you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/predominantly-in-the-west-if-you-can-only-have-creative-voices-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/predominantly-in-the-west-if-you-can-only-have-creative-voices-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 } } ] } ```