--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: D'you ever wonder what it would be like…" description: "\"D'you ever wonder what it would be like if our positions were reversed?' I ask. At Jack's puzzled look I continue. 'If we whites were in charge instead..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/malorie-blackman-10303_crosses_d-you-ever-wonder-what-it-would-be-like_285343.jpg" --- # D'you ever wonder what it would be like if our positions… ![“D'you ever wonder what it would be like if our positions were reversed?' I ask. At Jack's puzzled look I continue. 'If we whites were in charge instead of you Crosses?' 'Can't say it's ever crossed my mind,' Jack shrugs. 'I used to think about it a lot,' I sigh. 'Dreams of living in a world with…” quote by Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/malorie-blackman-10303_crosses_d-you-ever-wonder-what-it-would-be-like_285343.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/malorie-blackman-10303_crosses_d-you-ever-wonder-what-it-would-be-like_285343.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/malorie-blackman-10303_crosses_d-you-ever-wonder-what-it-would-be-like_285343.jpg) > “D'you ever wonder what it would be like if our positions were reversed?' I ask. At Jack's puzzled look I continue. 'If we whites were in charge instead of you Crosses?' 'Can't say it's ever crossed my mind,' Jack shrugs. 'I used to think about it a lot,' I sigh. 'Dreams of living in a world with no more discrimination, no more prejudice, a fair police force, an equal justice system, equality of education, equality of life, a level playing field...” [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) ## 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 imagines a role reversal to expose systemic racism, yearning for equality across all societal facets. **In simple terms:** What if roles were swapped and racism vanished? Key Takeaway Advocate for systemic change and empathy. Themes racism equality justice imagination Mood reflective aspirational Type social political When to use this quote - education - policy reform - community dialogue Key Concepts social hierarchy role reversal Questions to Reflect On - How can we move from thought experiments to real reforms? - What actions foster true equality? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑rooted biases requires more than imagination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Equal justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-justice/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-system/) [Level playing field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/level-playing-field/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Police force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police-force/) [Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice/) [Reversed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reversed/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“You know, Jack . . . you don’t mind if I call you Jack, do you?” “It’s my name, just don’t wear it out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-bruen/you-know-jack-you-don-t-mind-if-i-call-you-jack-do-you-it-s-my-name/) [Ken Bruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-bruen/) > [That's my passion. To make sure everybody is treated equally. To make sure we get equal justice. To make sure that everybody is on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scarface/that-s-my-passion-to-make-sure-everybody-is-treated-equally-to-make/) [Scarface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scarface/) > [“Was it possible to be in love with two people at the same time? It wasn’t something I’d ever considered before. My Barbie never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyne-hart/was-it-possible-to-be-in-love-with-two-people-at-the-same-time-it/) [Alyne Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyne-hart/) > [Acting never crossed my mind for a moment when I was growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-flanagan/acting-never-crossed-my-mind-for-a-moment-when-i-was-growing-up/) Tommy Flanagan > [It had never crossed my mind that a man could think he had the right to stop me from being who I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gioconda-belli/it-had-never-crossed-my-mind-that-a-man-could-think-he-had-the-right/) [Gioconda Belli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gioconda-belli/) > [If you asked me how many times you crossed my mind I would have to say once because you never really left...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-asked-me-how-many-times-you-crossed-my-mind-i-would-have-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I always wondered. If…” Her mouth was on autopilot. “If what, Ella?” “If I crossed your mind wherever you were.” “You don’t cross my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-safleur/i-always-wondered-if-her-mouth-was-on-autopilot-if-what-ella-if-i/) [Elizabeth SaFleur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-safleur/) > [“Moriarty: . . .everything I have to say has already crossed your mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-doyle/moriarty-everything-i-have-to-say-has-already-crossed-your-mind/) Conan Doyle > [I'm so happy when you say hi to me.. Because I know, even if just for a second, I crossed your mind... -](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/i-m-so-happy-when-you-say-hi-to-me-because-i-know-even-if-just-for-a/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You crossed my mind again and as usual I smiled...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-rala/you-crossed-my-mind-again-and-as-usual-i-smiled/) [Joy Rala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-rala/) > [The conversation of human beings seldom interested him, but it crossed his mind that the males and females always got along best when neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-conversation-of-human-beings-seldom-interested-him-but-it-crossed/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It never even crossed my mind I wouldn't go to college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-drew/it-never-even-crossed-my-mind-i-wouldn-t-go-to-college/) [Sarah Drew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-drew/) > [Everything that has befallen you happened simply cause it crossed your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/everything-that-has-befallen-you-happened-simply-cause-it-crossed/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [If you ever ask me how many times you've crossed my mind, I would say once. Because you came, and never left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-ever-ask-me-how-many-times-you-ve-crossed-my-mind-i-would-say/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It never crossed my mind that I had a choice in the matter once I was told no.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/it-never-crossed-my-mind-that-i-had-a-choice-in-the-matter-once-i-was/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) ## More by Malorie Blackman > [“I lay on her bed with my arms wrapped around her, wondering how on earth we'd managed to end up like this. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/i-lay-on-her-bed-with-my-arms-wrapped-around-her-wondering-how-on/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [“To my fellow Crosses, keep the faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/to-my-fellow-crosses-keep-the-faith/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [I pulled him closer to me, wrapping my arms around him, kissing him just as desperately as he was kissing me. Like if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/i-pulled-him-closer-to-me-wrapping-my-arms-around-him-kissing-him/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [“No-one understood. No-one. Least of all - me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/no-one-understood-no-one-least-of-all-me/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [I suppose it doesn't occur to you that I can think the system just as unjust as you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/i-suppose-it-doesn-t-occur-to-you-that-i-can-think-the-system-just-as/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [I wish... I wish he wasn't quite so ashamed of me. And if he could stop feeling so ashamed of himself, then maybe we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/i-wish-i-wish-he-wasn-t-quite-so-ashamed-of-me-and-if-he-could-stop/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [He pulls the hood over my head. I try to pull back. I'm not trying to run away. I just want to see her...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/he-pulls-the-hood-over-my-head-i-try-to-pull-back-i-m-not-trying-to/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [“I mean you're cute, but not that cute. Would Rhea really risk life in a maximum security detention unit just so that she could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/i-mean-you-re-cute-but-not-that-cute-would-rhea-really-risk-life-in-a/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [A backup plan means somewhere in my head, I think I might fail and that word is not in my vocabulary. Plus I'm too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/a-backup-plan-means-somewhere-in-my-head-i-think-i-might-fail-and/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [“If you can only have one, which means more to you? Being someone or making a difference -Lynny”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/if-you-can-only-have-one-which-means-more-to-you-being-someone-or/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [Boys don't cry, but men do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/boys-don-t-cry-but-men-do/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [“It was because I was scared. Scared of standing out, scared of being invisible. Scared of seeming too big, scared of being too small.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/it-was-because-i-was-scared-scared-of-standing-out-scared-of-being/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [“He loved to draw. Animals pouncing mostly. And trees. Always lone trees in black landscapes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/he-loved-to-draw-animals-pouncing-mostly-and-trees-always-lone-trees/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [“The higher you climb, the further you have to fall.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/the-higher-you-climb-the-further-you-have-to-fall/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [You're a Nought and I'm a Cross and there's nowhere for us to be, nowhere for us to go where we'd be left in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/you-re-a-nought-and-i-m-a-cross-and-there-s-nowhere-for-us-to-be/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) [Explore all 66 Malorie Blackman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) ## More Crosses quotes > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The old men of the village of Mahotière say that the Mistress of the Water is a mulatto woman. At midnight she comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-roumain/the-old-men-of-the-village-of-mahoti-re-say-that-the-mistress-of-the/) [Jacques Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-roumain/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn't seek the glory of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/whoever-does-not-seek-the-cross-of-christ-doesn-t-seek-the-glory-of/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [I am not a great believer in dialectical struggle. I am much more of a fusion person. I see it as a dialogue, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-warner/i-am-not-a-great-believer-in-dialectical-struggle-i-am-much-more-of-a/) [Marina Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-warner/) > [“To my fellow Crosses, keep the faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/to-my-fellow-crosses-keep-the-faith/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [I told my mom I was going to do a movie about a son who hears a story about his mom and takes her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelman/i-told-my-mom-i-was-going-to-do-a-movie-about-a-son-who-hears-a-story/) [Dan Fogelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelman/) > [I think in black communities today we need to encourage a lot more cross racial organizing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/i-think-in-black-communities-today-we-need-to-encourage-a-lot-more/) [Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/) > [ \[The Community's\] crosses and trials give me confidence. But I derive my hope above all, and most especially, from our utter incapacity, for it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-guerin/the-community-s-crosses-and-trials-give-me-confidence-but-i-derive-my/) [Theodore Guerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-guerin/) > [Never forget that the road to Heaven is the Way of the Cross. Jesus has called us to follow Him, bearing the Cross as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-philippine-duchesne/never-forget-that-the-road-to-heaven-is-the-way-of-the-cross-jesus/) [Rose Philippine Duchesne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-philippine-duchesne/) > [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. Take away from professing Christians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-send-your-life-throughout-the-entire-church-visit-your-church/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [When Jesus Christ shed his blood on the cross, it was not the blood of a martyr; or the blood of one man for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/when-jesus-christ-shed-his-blood-on-the-cross-it-was-not-the-blood-of/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. Bear your cross,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/pay-no-heed-to-the-passing-religious-vogue-go-back-to-the-grass-roots/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) Browse all 2,897 Crosses quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "D'you ever wonder what it would be like if our positions were reversed?' I ask. At Jack's puzzled look I continue. 'If we whites were in charge instead of you Crosses?' 'Can't say it's ever crossed my mind,' Jack shrugs. 'I used to think about it a lot,' I sigh. 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