--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It wasn't until I came to New York and…" description: "\"It wasn't until I came to New York and started to see the African American community, but also the Ethiopian community here, and started to eat the foo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31b/marcus-samuelsson-1990_african_it-wasn-t-until-i-came-to-new-york-and-s_2088105.png" --- # It wasn't until I came to New York and started to see the… ![“It wasn't until I came to New York and started to see the African American community, but also the Ethiopian community here, and started to eat the food, started to understand the music. I said, you know, I got to go and understand the culture. So me and my sister went.” quote by Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31b/marcus-samuelsson-1990_african_it-wasn-t-until-i-came-to-new-york-and-s_2088105.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31b/marcus-samuelsson-1990_african_it-wasn-t-until-i-came-to-new-york-and-s_2088105.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31b/marcus-samuelsson-1990_african_it-wasn-t-until-i-came-to-new-york-and-s_2088105.png) > “It wasn't until I came to New York and started to see the African American community, but also the Ethiopian community here, and started to eat the food, started to understand the music. I said, you know, I got to go and understand the culture. So me and my sister went.” [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Immersion in a new city’s cultures deepens understanding and enriches personal and professional life. **In simple terms:** Learning cultures expands horizons. Key Takeaway Seek authentic cultural experiences. Themes culture food learning exploration Mood curious inspired Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - travel planning - menu development - community outreach Key Concepts cultural immersion culinary arts identity Questions to Reflect On - How will you respect cultural origins? - What can you share from these experiences? A Different Perspective Cultural appropriation risks exist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sister/) ## Related quotes > [I don't have memories of Ethiopia as a child. I didn't learn about Ethiopian culture until after I moved to New York and started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/i-don-t-have-memories-of-ethiopia-as-a-child-i-didn-t-learn-about/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [I visited the Ethiopian National Project which was created by the government to fully integrate Ethiopian Jews into Israel's society. They're still facing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/i-visited-the-ethiopian-national-project-which-was-created-by-the/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [I unequivocally condemn the striking of the soldier from the Ethiopian community and those responsible will be brought to justice but nobody has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/i-unequivocally-condemn-the-striking-of-the-soldier-from-the/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [They hadn't even gotten their first paychecks yet, ... My biggest thing was giving them a sense of reality and what costs would be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-pearson/they-hadn-t-even-gotten-their-first-paychecks-yet-my-biggest-thing/) Ron Pearson > [I just started to understand my craft, what I wanted to do as an artist. It's just a growing process. Figuring out exactly what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-de/i-just-started-to-understand-my-craft-what-i-wanted-to-do-as-an/) [Young De](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-de/) > [After I started to understand the spiritual dimension of life, I understood the responsibilities you have as a husband, a father, a friend and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-henderson/after-i-started-to-understand-the-spiritual-dimension-of-life-i/) [Paul Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-henderson/) > [I started to understand how important it was for me to make my own name pretty early on after years of noticing people treating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-jr/i-started-to-understand-how-important-it-was-for-me-to-make-my-own/) [Chris Eubank Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-jr/) > [“..She had started to understand how a woman's attention could succeed in making sense of a man's blind chaos..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/she-had-started-to-understand-how-a-woman-s-attention-could-succeed/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [I realized that I was African when I came to the United States. Whenever Africa came up in my college classes, everyone turned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/i-realized-that-i-was-african-when-i-came-to-the-united-states/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [We know so much about the European food story, and we're getting to know about the American food story; but we know so little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/we-know-so-much-about-the-european-food-story-and-we-re-getting-to/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [I get so tickled when that pilot happens to be an African American because I rarely see that. The same is true when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/i-get-so-tickled-when-that-pilot-happens-to-be-an-african-american/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [I would love to take a cooking class from Gandhi. Maybe I could teach him how to cook, and he could teach me his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/i-would-love-to-take-a-cooking-class-from-gandhi-maybe-i-could-teach/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [What makes Harlem special is that at any given time, food seekers can not only find food deeply rooted in Southern, Latin and African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/what-makes-harlem-special-is-that-at-any-given-time-food-seekers-can/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) > [We examine and highlight the history of the African descendants in America, and know that each and every one of us has come this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-clarke/we-examine-and-highlight-the-history-of-the-african-descendants-in/) [Yvette Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-clarke/) ## More by Marcus Samuelsson > [Criticism is part of the creative man's journey, and I appreciate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/criticism-is-part-of-the-creative-man-s-journey-and-i-appreciate-it/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [We can all agree that government cant solve the obesity crisis alone. Its an ongoing issue that will require a collaborative effort across private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/we-can-all-agree-that-government-cant-solve-the-obesity-crisis-alone/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [While most individuals use the flesh of the coconut in their cooking, coconut water and oil are also known to have numerous health benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/while-most-individuals-use-the-flesh-of-the-coconut-in-their-cooking/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [For many sports fans, the onset of fall only means one thing: It's football season!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/for-many-sports-fans-the-onset-of-fall-only-means-one-thing-it-s/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [There are so many times there could have been a left turn instead of a right turn in all people's lives. I think mine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/there-are-so-many-times-there-could-have-been-a-left-turn-instead-of/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [I stand behind everything I've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/i-stand-behind-everything-i-ve-done/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [I'm lucky to live in New York, a city that offers so many options for lunch. I can pick up dumplings from a Midtown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/i-m-lucky-to-live-in-new-york-a-city-that-offers-so-many-options-for/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [Thanksgiving is one of my favorite American traditions. I quickly picked it up when I moved to the U.S. from Sweden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/thanksgiving-is-one-of-my-favorite-american-traditions-i-quickly/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [Although I believe affection and romance should be shown all year around, it's always smart to have a good plan up your sleeve for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/although-i-believe-affection-and-romance-should-be-shown-all-year/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [I would love to take a cooking class from Gandhi. Maybe I could teach him how to cook, and he could teach me his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/i-would-love-to-take-a-cooking-class-from-gandhi-maybe-i-could-teach/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [I get so tickled when that pilot happens to be an African American because I rarely see that. The same is true when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/i-get-so-tickled-when-that-pilot-happens-to-be-an-african-american/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [It's key to know which essential foods will keep you going and help your body recover after hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/it-s-key-to-know-which-essential-foods-will-keep-you-going-and-help/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [I love using rice as a flour; I'll grind roasted rice and dip fish in that. It gives a beautiful, crunchy texture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/i-love-using-rice-as-a-flour-i-ll-grind-roasted-rice-and-dip-fish-in/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [The Swedish Christmas is definitely unique, even throughout Scandinavia. Like Christmas everywhere, it's a very family-centered holiday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/the-swedish-christmas-is-definitely-unique-even-throughout/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [I am many different things, and that is why I am so proud to be American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/i-am-many-different-things-and-that-is-why-i-am-so-proud-to-be/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) [Explore all 193 Marcus Samuelsson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) ## More African quotes > [We examine and highlight the history of the African descendants in America, and know that each and every one of us has come this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-clarke/we-examine-and-highlight-the-history-of-the-african-descendants-in/) [Yvette Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-clarke/) > [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Virtually all of Darfur's six million residents are Muslim, and, because of decades of intermarriage, almost everyone has dark skin and African features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/virtually-all-of-darfur-s-six-million-residents-are-muslim-and/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [I loved Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi. Its about a first-generation African family living in America that has to return home to Nigeria…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzo-aduba/i-loved-ghana-must-go-by-taiye-selasi-its-about-a-first-generation/) [Uzo Aduba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzo-aduba/) > [I was adopted my black Americans, I feel that I'm a 'Hybrid'. When I'm around Africans'I suddenly feel very black American. And when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kola-boof/i-was-adopted-my-black-americans-i-feel-that-i-m-a-hybrid-when-i-m/) [Kola Boof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kola-boof/) > [I concentrate on the southern African subcontinent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-dennis/i-concentrate-on-the-southern-african-subcontinent/) [Nigel Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-dennis/) > ['Yo I'm from Africa' Boy you're just a faker. Name one city: 'Uhh, Jamaica!' Wrong! And I think that's a shame, An African look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-sun/yo-i-m-from-africa-boy-you-re-just-a-faker-name-one-city-uhh-jamaica/) King Sun > [I am of an African-Jamaican descent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-mitchell/i-am-of-an-african-jamaican-descent/) [Liz Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-mitchell/) > [When I was very little, I was into Michael Jackson. At six or seven, it was Madonna, but she's not what she used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/when-i-was-very-little-i-was-into-michael-jackson-at-six-or-seven-it/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [Football is a personal interest which has been turned into a philanthropic initiative directed at encouraging social cohesion during the difficult process of African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-hussein-al-amoudi/football-is-a-personal-interest-which-has-been-turned-into-a/) Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi > [But we've all ended up giving body and soul to Africa, one way or another. Even Adah, who's becoming an expert in tropical epidemiology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/but-we-ve-all-ended-up-giving-body-and-soul-to-africa-one-way-or/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [African Queen' is pretty darn great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-eggers/african-queen-is-pretty-darn-great/) [Robert Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-eggers/) > [Most Americans know nothing about the African forest, and it seems to them a very scary, spooky dangerous place. I've spent a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-quammen/most-americans-know-nothing-about-the-african-forest-and-it-seems-to/) [David Quammen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-quammen/) Browse all 576 African quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It wasn't until I came to New York and started to see the African American community, but also the Ethiopian community here, and started to eat the food, started to understand the music. I said, you know, I got to go and understand the culture. 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