---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We need a more substantive conversation…"
description: "\"We need a more substantive conversation around race relations and the way people of color are treated.\" — Megan Rapinoe"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/megan-rapinoe-8088_communication_we-need-a-more-substantive-conversation_1534690.jpg"
---

#  We need a more substantive conversation around race…

![“We need a more substantive conversation around race relations and the way people of color are treated.” quote by Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/megan-rapinoe-8088_communication_we-need-a-more-substantive-conversation_1534690.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/megan-rapinoe-8088_communication_we-need-a-more-substantive-conversation_1534690.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/megan-rapinoe-8088_communication_we-need-a-more-substantive-conversation_1534690.jpg)

> “We need a more substantive conversation around race relations and the way people of color are treated.”

[Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A deeper dialogue on race is needed to address systemic inequities and improve treatment of people of color.

**In simple terms:** More dialogue needed on race equity.

Key Takeaway

Engage in honest, inclusive conversations.

Themes

race relations social justice dialogue

Mood

hopeful urgent

Type

activist motivational

When to use this quote

- policy reform
- education
- community outreach
- media representation

Key Concepts

systemic racism intersectionality

Questions to Reflect On

- What can create safe spaces for race discussions?
- How to move from talk to action?

A Different Perspective

Conversations may become contentious without safe spaces.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Conversation Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation-race-2125203/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Need Substantive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-substantive-5703150/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Race relations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race-relations/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Substantive Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substantive-conversation-341291/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [Truth is, some of you aren't interested in a real conversation about race - you'd rather go on the attack for anyone that dares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-lahren/truth-is-some-of-you-aren-t-interested-in-a-real-conversation-about/)

[Tomi Lahren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-lahren/)

> [I don't spend too much time attempting to defend myself against people who seem to have zero desire to have a substantive conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sho-baraka/i-don-t-spend-too-much-time-attempting-to-defend-myself-against/)

[Sho Baraka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sho-baraka/)

> [ We also discussed \[with the President of Mexico\] the great contributions of Mexican-American citizens to our two countries, my love for the people of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-also-discussed-with-the-president-of-mexico-the-great/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [I think unless we have an honest conversation about race and identity in this country, we're never going to get anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-think-unless-we-have-an-honest-conversation-about-race-and-identity/)

[Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/)

> [The conversation about race is inevitable. It's one that people know that we have to have and continue to have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peele/the-conversation-about-race-is-inevitable-it-s-one-that-people-know/)

[Jordan Peele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peele/)

> [I think when people talk about race relations in America, they talk about African-American and white people. Asians are not often brought into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/i-think-when-people-talk-about-race-relations-in-america-they-talk/)

[Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/)

> [“From the isolated, individualistic perspective of most white evangelicals and many other Americans, there really is no race problem other than bad interpersonal relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-smith/from-the-isolated-individualistic-perspective-of-most-white/)

[Christian Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-smith/)

> [Here's the thing. When we talk about race relations in America or racial progress, it's all nonsense. There are no race relations. White people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/here-s-the-thing-when-we-talk-about-race-relations-in-america-or/)

[Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/)

> [In a manner akin to the influence of Tiger Woods on the other side of the Atlantic, Thierry Henry has helped kick down a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-gill/in-a-manner-akin-to-the-influence-of-tiger-woods-on-the-other-side-of/)

[Pete Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-gill/)

> [The growth of race relations management, diversity training and 'promoting good relations' has come at a cost. We are more sensitized to racism, yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munira-mirza/the-growth-of-race-relations-management-diversity-training-and/)

[Munira Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munira-mirza/)

> [The national conversation around white entitlement, around institutionalized racism, the Black Lives Matter movement, I think, came about in large part because of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/the-national-conversation-around-white-entitlement-around/)

[Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/)

> [Why is racism still a conversation in 2020? We are all one. It hurts me. It upsets me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-van-aanholt/why-is-racism-still-a-conversation-in-2020-we-are-all-one-it-hurts-me/)

[Patrick van Aanholt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-van-aanholt/)

> [You also had in Detroit that summer, an early variation of Ferguson. A black prostitute was shot in the back by police. And all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maraniss/you-also-had-in-detroit-that-summer-an-early-variation-of-ferguson-a/)

[David Maraniss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maraniss/)

> [“was my first indication that the policies of Mamaw’s “party of the working man”—the Democrats—weren’t all they were cracked up to be. Political scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-vance/was-my-first-indication-that-the-policies-of-mamaw-s-party-of-the/)

[J.D. Vance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-vance/)

> [“Love is not coercion, and the state is only an agent of coercion. It has no other function and can work no other way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mcdurmon/love-is-not-coercion-and-the-state-is-only-an-agent-of-coercion-it/)

[Joel McDurmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mcdurmon/)

## More by Megan Rapinoe

> [Being a woman, we talk about equal pay all the time. We're not talking about if you're black or if you are Latina. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/being-a-woman-we-talk-about-equal-pay-all-the-time-we-re-not-talking/)

[Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/)

> [You never want to go through a coaching change mid-cycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/you-never-want-to-go-through-a-coaching-change-mid-cycle/)

[Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/)

> [The more I've been able to learn about gay rights and equal pay and gender equity and racial inequality, the more that it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/the-more-i-ve-been-able-to-learn-about-gay-rights-and-equal-pay-and/)

[Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/)

> [Just emotionally, as amazing as it is to win the World Cup, it's emotionally draining in many ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/just-emotionally-as-amazing-as-it-is-to-win-the-world-cup-it-s/)

[Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/)

> [The kneeling and everything, I think it really only sort of solidifies who I am as a person and the things that I stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/the-kneeling-and-everything-i-think-it-really-only-sort-of-solidifies/)

[Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/)

> [We didn't lose a game at home for two years. What are we missing? We have the product on the field. We're exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/we-didn-t-lose-a-game-at-home-for-two-years-what-are-we-missing-we/)

[Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/)

> [I've always been a risk taker. Growing up, I had a lot of freedom and room to roam and do what I wanted, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/i-ve-always-been-a-risk-taker-growing-up-i-had-a-lot-of-freedom-and/)

[Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/)

> [A typical week of training leading up to a major championship is like the sprinkling of parsley at the end of a dish. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/a-typical-week-of-training-leading-up-to-a-major-championship-is-like/)

[Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/)

> [I can understand if you think that I'm disrespecting the flag by kneeling, but it is because of my utmost respect for the flag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/i-can-understand-if-you-think-that-i-m-disrespecting-the-flag-by/)

[Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/)

> [I'm totally obsessed with Tilda Swinton. She has this strange, beautiful sexiness about her. I love everything she does. And I love her hair.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/i-m-totally-obsessed-with-tilda-swinton-she-has-this-strange/)

[Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/)

> [When I take a knee, I am facing the flag with my full body, staring straight into the heart of our country's ultimate symbol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/when-i-take-a-knee-i-am-facing-the-flag-with-my-full-body-staring/)

[Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/)

> [ I guess \[coming out publicly\] seems like a weight off my shoulders. I’ve been playing a lot better than I’ve ever played before. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/i-guess-coming-out-publicly-seems-like-a-weight-off-my-shoulders-i-ve/)

[Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/)

> [If there's one thing this team doesn't lack, it's competitiveness and a desire to win. No matter if we come off a win or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/if-there-s-one-thing-this-team-doesn-t-lack-it-s-competitiveness-and/)

[Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/)

> [I take playing for my country very seriously. It's a huge honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/i-take-playing-for-my-country-very-seriously-it-s-a-huge-honor/)

[Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/)

> [I feel like it's actually everybody's responsibility to use whatever platform they have to do good in the world, basically, and to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/i-feel-like-it-s-actually-everybody-s-responsibility-to-use-whatever/)

[Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/)

[Explore all 84 Megan Rapinoe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/)

## More Communication quotes

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/)

[John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/)

> [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/)

[Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/)

> [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/)

[Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/)

> [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/)

[Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/)

> [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/)

[Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/)

> [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/)

[Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/)

> [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/)

[Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/)

> [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/)

[Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/)

> [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/)

[Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/)

> [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/)

[Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/)

> [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/)

[Yoram Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoram-wind/)

> [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/)

[Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/)

[Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We need a more substantive conversation around race relations and the way people of color are treated.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Megan Rapinoe"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/we-need-a-more-substantive-conversation-around-race-relations-and-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Communication"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/we-need-a-more-substantive-conversation-around-race-relations-and-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/megan-rapinoe-8088_communication_we-need-a-more-substantive-conversation_1534690.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/megan-rapinoe-8088_communication_we-need-a-more-substantive-conversation_1534690.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/megan-rapinoe-8088_communication_we-need-a-more-substantive-conversation_1534690.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We need a more substantive conversation around race relations and the way people of color are treated.” — Megan Rapinoe",
                "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": "Megan Rapinoe",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We need a more substantive conversation...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/we-need-a-more-substantive-conversation-around-race-relations-and-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/we-need-a-more-substantive-conversation-around-race-relations-and-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
