--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do think that we have to be careful not…" description: "\"I do think that we have to be careful not to assume that getting a perm or wearing a blonde wig is a desire for whiteness. It may or may not be. Listen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/097/melissa-harris-perry-10452_all-kinds_i-do-think-that-we-have-to-be-careful-no_2811719.png" --- # I do think that we have to be careful not to assume that… ![“I do think that we have to be careful not to assume that getting a perm or wearing a blonde wig is a desire for whiteness. It may or may not be. Listen, I live in a poor black neighborhood where women wear blue hair, green hair, and all kinds of stuff. So, I simply see it as a different set of…” quote by Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/097/melissa-harris-perry-10452_all-kinds_i-do-think-that-we-have-to-be-careful-no_2811719.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/097/melissa-harris-perry-10452_all-kinds_i-do-think-that-we-have-to-be-careful-no_2811719.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/097/melissa-harris-perry-10452_all-kinds_i-do-think-that-we-have-to-be-careful-no_2811719.png) > “I do think that we have to be careful not to assume that getting a perm or wearing a blonde wig is a desire for whiteness. It may or may not be. Listen, I live in a poor black neighborhood where women wear blue hair, green hair, and all kinds of stuff. So, I simply see it as a different set of choices.” [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She cautions against equating personal style choices with a desire for whiteness, emphasizing diverse expressions within Black communities. **In simple terms:** Style choices aren't always about race. Key Takeaway Recognize cultural diversity in personal expression. Themes identity culture race expression Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical observational When to use this quote - urban neighborhoods - fashion discussions - media commentary Key Concepts intersectionality social perception personal autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How do we respect individual choices without imposing stereotypes? - What role does media play in shaping these perceptions? A Different Perspective Assuming intent can oversimplify complex cultural dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [All kinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-kinds/) [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Be careful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-careful/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Blonde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blonde/) [Blonde Wig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blonde-wig-1752629/) [Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blue/) [Blue hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blue-hair/) [Careful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careful/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desire Whiteness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-whiteness-3524684/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/green/) [Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Neighborhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighborhood/) [Perm Wearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perm-wearing-3524683/) [Perms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perms/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wearing Blonde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wearing-blonde-3524685/) [Whiteness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whiteness/) [Wig Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wig-desire-3087529/) [Wigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wigs/) ## Related quotes > [I can understand how someone might read wearing a blonde wig as a desire to be white, but I suspect that the same shaming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/i-can-understand-how-someone-might-read-wearing-a-blonde-wig-as-a/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [When you come in wearing a blonde wig, people want to hold the door open for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-d-arcy/when-you-come-in-wearing-a-blonde-wig-people-want-to-hold-the-door/) [Emma D'Arcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-d-arcy/) > [At home, my daughter Azura has got this long blonde wig that she loves, and she's obsessed with Rapunzel, but you need to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alesha-dixon/at-home-my-daughter-azura-has-got-this-long-blonde-wig-that-she-loves/) [Alesha Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alesha-dixon/) > [If I'm feeling like a Barbie girl, I'm gonna throw that blonde wig on. It's just the mood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blac-chyna/if-i-m-feeling-like-a-barbie-girl-i-m-gonna-throw-that-blonde-wig-on/) [Blac Chyna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blac-chyna/) > [I'd like to have thicker hair. I was in 'What The Butler Saw' and at the beginning the character has got long, blonde hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-page/i-d-like-to-have-thicker-hair-i-was-in-what-the-butler-saw-and-at-the/) [Joanna Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-page/) > [Weirdly enough, in my 14 years of modeling, I've only worn a blonde wig three times. I have no idea why I've never been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-rocha/weirdly-enough-in-my-14-years-of-modeling-i-ve-only-worn-a-blonde-wig/) [Coco Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-rocha/) > [The stinkiest hair products have got to be any sort of perm, and Nair. In fact, they smell remarkably similar. Do you think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-renfroe/the-stinkiest-hair-products-have-got-to-be-any-sort-of-perm-and-nair/) [Anita Renfroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-renfroe/) > [When I was younger, I had a perm, and it was really big. My mom was a hairdresser, so even my dad had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-klum/when-i-was-younger-i-had-a-perm-and-it-was-really-big-my-mom-was-a/) [Heidi Klum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-klum/) > [I wanted to look right. I remember a review - a very positive one - in The New York Times that said I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-spiner/i-wanted-to-look-right-i-remember-a-review-a-very-positive-one-in-the/) [Brent Spiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-spiner/) > [I'd heard of Evergreen Care Center before. Cass and I had always made fun of the stupid ads they ran on TV, featuring some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-d-heard-of-evergreen-care-center-before-cass-and-i-had-always-made/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I used to get perms to straighten my hair and change the texture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-taylor/i-used-to-get-perms-to-straighten-my-hair-and-change-the-texture/) [Joy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-taylor/) > [Perm in your hair or even a curly weave, Wichya New Edition Bobby Brown button on your sleeve. I tell you come here, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ll-cool-j/perm-in-your-hair-or-even-a-curly-weave-wichya-new-edition-bobby/) [LL Cool J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ll-cool-j/) > [ As it turns out, sometimes that bites you. In this case, I saw pictures of Earl \[Mills\], and...I actually met him. He was quite… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-spiner/as-it-turns-out-sometimes-that-bites-you-in-this-case-i-saw-pictures/) [Brent Spiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-spiner/) > [I've learned when you drink Absolut straight, it burns enough to give my chest hairs a perm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/method-man/i-ve-learned-when-you-drink-absolut-straight-it-burns-enough-to-give/) [Method Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/method-man/) > [Rand Paul tried hard to upstage Donald Trump at the first debate, talking tough about his guns and his right not to register them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-burch/rand-paul-tried-hard-to-upstage-donald-trump-at-the-first-debate/) [Michael R. Burch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-burch/) ## More by Melissa Harris-Perry > [I learned that you can't write a book in the margins of your life. I'd forgotten how much uninterrupted time it takes to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/i-learned-that-you-can-t-write-a-book-in-the-margins-of-your-life-i-d/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [ The debate was a chance for senator \[Bernie\] Sanders to have a game-changing moment to recapture the news cycle and build momentum going into… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/the-debate-was-a-chance-for-senator-bernie-sanders-to-have-a-game/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [Having a white parent undoubtedly makes for a different childhood experience than having two black parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/having-a-white-parent-undoubtedly-makes-for-a-different-childhood/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [Drink lots of water, and nap. I've made some really big messes along the way, whether on the academic side or on the media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/drink-lots-of-water-and-nap-i-ve-made-some-really-big-messes-along/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [Terrifying mass shooting and high-profile officer-involved incidents have dominated the national conversation on gun violence in recent years. But most deaths by gun are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/terrifying-mass-shooting-and-high-profile-officer-involved-incidents/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [Stereotypes work to help divide women from recognizing their common interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/stereotypes-work-to-help-divide-women-from-recognizing-their-common/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [I would agree if the race were today, most likely, our nominee would be Donald Trump, but it isn't today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/i-would-agree-if-the-race-were-today-most-likely-our-nominee-would-be/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [The Republicans don't need black folks to vote Republican, they just need them to not vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/the-republicans-don-t-need-black-folks-to-vote-republican-they-just/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [I had a friend say to me the other day, I hate when I see Jonathan Metzl on your show because I know it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/i-had-a-friend-say-to-me-the-other-day-i-hate-when-i-see-jonathan/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [I am a supporter of much of the Arab Spring, as a matter of indigenous self-determination. So, I see the United States' role in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/i-am-a-supporter-of-much-of-the-arab-spring-as-a-matter-of-indigenous/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [ The leading non-establishment Republican candidate for president, Donald Trump, is just sailing past \[establishment Republican candidates\] in the polls. He is still surging. He… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/the-leading-non-establishment-republican-candidate-for-president/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [I think the idea that you're somehow rejecting whiteness if you don't identify yourself as biracial is odd because everybody engages in whiteness. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/i-think-the-idea-that-you-re-somehow-rejecting-whiteness-if-you-don-t/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [Popular films are so powerful and compelling that it's often easier to accept their versions of history than the much more complicated true stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/popular-films-are-so-powerful-and-compelling-that-it-s-often-easier/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [Donald Trump has changed the rule and so have the stations and the media coverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/donald-trump-has-changed-the-rule-and-so-have-the-stations-and-the/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [As we watch Republican candidates like Scott Walker and Rick Perry and Bobby Jindal and George Pataki, and even Jeb Bush and Chris Christie,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/as-we-watch-republican-candidates-like-scott-walker-and-rick-perry/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) [Explore all 65 Melissa Harris-Perry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) ## More All kinds quotes > [I was interested in all kinds of things, whether it be Avatar, Mad Men, Troy, 300, Battlestar Gallactica, or the poems of Horace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mendelsohn/i-was-interested-in-all-kinds-of-things-whether-it-be-avatar-mad-men/) [Daniel Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mendelsohn/) > [While husbands and lovers in the stories are of all kinds, ranging from sympathetic to disgusting, women are invariably deceivers: inconstant, unscrupulous, quarrelsome, querulous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/while-husbands-and-lovers-in-the-stories-are-of-all-kinds-ranging/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [I'm not technically proficient enough to attempt all kinds of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/i-m-not-technically-proficient-enough-to-attempt-all-kinds-of-music/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [My office in New York is overflowing with all kinds of cookbooks, and in New Orleans we have a huge culinary library. So yeah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emeril-lagasse/my-office-in-new-york-is-overflowing-with-all-kinds-of-cookbooks-and/) [Emeril Lagasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emeril-lagasse/) > [Sydney is full of the craziest and most talented artists of all kinds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keiynan-lonsdale/sydney-is-full-of-the-craziest-and-most-talented-artists-of-all-kinds/) [Keiynan Lonsdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keiynan-lonsdale/) > [Baseball needs to put the steroids era behind it by having and enforcing tough rules against all kinds of artificial advantages, so that spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/baseball-needs-to-put-the-steroids-era-behind-it-by-having-and/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [You know, the world’s not running out of oil. There’s all kinds of oil left in all kinds of places. …We’re never going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-rubin/you-know-the-world-s-not-running-out-of-oil-there-s-all-kinds-of-oil/) [Jeff Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-rubin/) > [I grew up with all kinds of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-diesel/i-grew-up-with-all-kinds-of-people/) [Vin Diesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-diesel/) > [Because there were all kinds of hell - some were black and dirty, and some were silvery and high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/because-there-were-all-kinds-of-hell-some-were-black-and-dirty-and/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) > [The architecture of the song, if it's built properly, can withstand all kinds of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/the-architecture-of-the-song-if-it-s-built-properly-can-withstand-all/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [There are all kinds of writers. The best writers write children's books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-scarry/there-are-all-kinds-of-writers-the-best-writers-write-children-s-books/) [Richard Scarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-scarry/) > [We also need to make sure women can be in charge of their reproductive health. We can't defund places like Planned Parenthood, where women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-teigen/we-also-need-to-make-sure-women-can-be-in-charge-of-their/) [Chrissy Teigen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-teigen/) > [The single greatest pleasure that I have in doing ('Bizarre Foods') is when I meet families with 6, 7, 8-year-olds, or teenagers, who say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-zimmern/the-single-greatest-pleasure-that-i-have-in-doing-bizarre-foods-is/) [Andrew Zimmern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-zimmern/) > [I can see that I imagine all kinds of rejection that never happens. I can see that I beg and plead for love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wurtzel/i-can-see-that-i-imagine-all-kinds-of-rejection-that-never-happens-i/) [Elizabeth Wurtzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wurtzel/) > [Do you know people who insist they like 'all kinds of music'? That actually means they like no kinds of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/do-you-know-people-who-insist-they-like-all-kinds-of-music-that/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) [Browse all 1,489 All kinds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-kinds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I do think that we have to be careful not to assume that getting a perm or wearing a blonde wig is a desire for whiteness. It may or may not be. Listen, I live in a poor black neighborhood where women wear blue hair, green hair, and all kinds of stuff. 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