--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the most harmful belief passed on…" description: "\"I think the most harmful belief passed on to me - not always directly - was the belief that whatever I did as a Negro, however much we Negroes achieved..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/margo-jefferson-38348_belief_i-think-the-most-harmful-belief-passed-o_2040272.jpg" --- # I think the most harmful belief passed on to me - not… ![“I think the most harmful belief passed on to me - not always directly - was the belief that whatever I did as a Negro, however much we Negroes achieved, despite the presence of some enlightened whites, white society as a whole enjoyed being racists in the secret core of their being and would…” quote by Margo Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/margo-jefferson-38348_belief_i-think-the-most-harmful-belief-passed-o_2040272.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/margo-jefferson-38348_belief_i-think-the-most-harmful-belief-passed-o_2040272.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/margo-jefferson-38348_belief_i-think-the-most-harmful-belief-passed-o_2040272.jpg) > “I think the most harmful belief passed on to me - not always directly - was the belief that whatever I did as a Negro, however much we Negroes achieved, despite the presence of some enlightened whites, white society as a whole enjoyed being racists in the secret core of their being and would never, ever give that up.” [Margo Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-jefferson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author argues that systemic racism persists because white society internally harbors racist attitudes, despite outward progress. **In simple terms:** White people often hide deep‑seated racism despite appearing progressive. Key Takeaway Challenge hidden biases. Themes racism systemic oppression identity history Mood critical somber Type essay social commentary When to use this quote - academic discourse - public policy - education - media analysis Key Concepts social psychology racial dynamics cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - What evidence reveals hidden racism? - How can societies confront covert bias? A Different Perspective Some may argue that many whites are genuinely anti‑racist and changing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Enlightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Racist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racist/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing will infect you with a negative view of the world faster than hanging around people with harmful belief systems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-gage/nothing-will-infect-you-with-a-negative-view-of-the-world-faster-than/) [Randy Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-gage/) > [“Even when you have been somewhat enlightened by what you have read, you are called upon to continue the serach for significance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-j-adler/even-when-you-have-been-somewhat-enlightened-by-what-you-have-read/) [Mortimer J. Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-j-adler/) > [In dealing with those who share his bed, the enlightened ruler may enjoy their beauty but should not listen to their special pleas...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/in-dealing-with-those-who-share-his-bed-the-enlightened-ruler-may/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [As a child there was no place for adventure or experimentation. I guess that kind of freedom started in high school with punk rock.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcnairy/as-a-child-there-was-no-place-for-adventure-or-experimentation-i/) [Mark McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcnairy/) > [For I did not know that the soul needs to be enlightened by light from outside itself, so that it can participate in truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/for-i-did-not-know-that-the-soul-needs-to-be-enlightened-by-light/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [We do not have to be ashamed of what we are. As sentient beings we have wonderful backgrounds. These backgrounds may not be particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-do-not-have-to-be-ashamed-of-what-we-are-as-sentient-beings-we/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [The enlightened attention rejects nothing nor welcomes anything-like a mirror it responds equally to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/the-enlightened-attention-rejects-nothing-nor-welcomes-anything-like/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [“The more that the human mind is enlightened, the more desirous it becomes of farther acquisitions in knowledge. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-stewart/the-more-that-the-human-mind-is-enlightened-the-more-desirous-it/) Alexander Stewart > [I think enlightenment is something that you decide to do after you have met someone who is enlightened. Something touches your heart, your being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-enlightenment-is-something-that-you-decide-to-do-after-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Our attitude towards evil must be freed from hatred, and has itself need to be enlightened in character...Satan rejoices when he succeeds in inspiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-berdyaev/our-attitude-towards-evil-must-be-freed-from-hatred-and-has-itself/) [Nikolai Berdyaev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-berdyaev/) > [ “Through the grace of a thief, one can become a thief and through the grace of a Gnani \[the enlightened one\], one can become… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/through-the-grace-of-a-thief-one-can-become-a-thief-and-through-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Now the stage today is to know that Self Realization gives you experiences and then your faith is established. Not blind but open enlightened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/now-the-stage-today-is-to-know-that-self-realization-gives-you/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) ## More by Margo Jefferson > [No one expects a Broadway musical comedy to be in the vanguard of what is bohemian, raunchy, folkloric, academic or aggressively experimental. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/no-one-expects-a-broadway-musical-comedy-to-be-in-the-vanguard-of/) [Margo Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-jefferson/) > [Depression is so treacherous - it can be so alluring as well as punishing. After all, it's yours and yours alone - no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/depression-is-so-treacherous-it-can-be-so-alluring-as-well-as/) [Margo Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-jefferson/) > [“You are a single woman; you intend to remain one. You’ve acquired enough sexual experience to feel you belong to your times. You do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/you-are-a-single-woman-you-intend-to-remain-one-you-ve-acquired/) [Margo Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-jefferson/) > [Witty, brooding, contemplative, explosive: take your pick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/witty-brooding-contemplative-explosive-take-your-pick/) [Margo Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-jefferson/) > [The world I grew up in had both a literal and mythological quality. We were on the borders of several worlds - the larger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/the-world-i-grew-up-in-had-both-a-literal-and-mythological-quality-we/) [Margo Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-jefferson/) > [Creativity isn't far away, or outside of you. It's an inner movement, a heart-shift, a joy making its way out of your throat or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/creativity-isn-t-far-away-or-outside-of-you-it-s-an-inner-movement-a/) [Margo Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-jefferson/) > [“the elite of our people” had, in his quiet way, escaped slavery. In 1841 Joseph Willson, dentist, of Philadelphia, published Sketches of the Higher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/the-elite-of-our-people-had-in-his-quiet-way-escaped-slavery-in-1841/) [Margo Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-jefferson/) > [We talk about how we think, believe, suspect Michael Jackson treats children. We don't talk about how WE treat child stars. Child stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/we-talk-about-how-we-think-believe-suspect-michael-jackson-treats/) [Margo Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-jefferson/) > [Depression isn't the almighty ruler of your destiny. Even its familiar traits - grief, anger, despair - you find that you can use in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/depression-isn-t-the-almighty-ruler-of-your-destiny-even-its-familiar/) [Margo Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-jefferson/) > [For better or worse, there is not a situation in one's daily life that does not have feminist subtext, superstructure, implications and one is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/for-better-or-worse-there-is-not-a-situation-in-one-s-daily-life-that/) [Margo Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-jefferson/) > [The theater let me dramatize inner struggles, the push-pull between the inner life and the world, the various selves I presented according to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/the-theater-let-me-dramatize-inner-struggles-the-push-pull-between/) [Margo Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-jefferson/) [Explore all 12 Margo Jefferson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-jefferson/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the most harmful belief passed on to me - not always directly - was the belief that whatever I did as a Negro, however much we Negroes achieved, despite the presence of some enlightened whites, white society as a whole enjoyed being racists in the secret core of their being and would never, ever give that up.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Margo Jefferson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/i-think-the-most-harmful-belief-passed-on-to-me-not-always-directly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/i-think-the-most-harmful-belief-passed-on-to-me-not-always-directly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/margo-jefferson-38348_belief_i-think-the-most-harmful-belief-passed-o_2040272.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/margo-jefferson-38348_belief_i-think-the-most-harmful-belief-passed-o_2040272.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/margo-jefferson-38348_belief_i-think-the-most-harmful-belief-passed-o_2040272.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the most harmful belief passed on to me - not always directly - was the belief that whatever I did…” — Margo Jefferson", "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": "Margo Jefferson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-jefferson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think the most harmful belief...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/i-think-the-most-harmful-belief-passed-on-to-me-not-always-directly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/i-think-the-most-harmful-belief-passed-on-to-me-not-always-directly/#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 } } ] } ```