--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's the African-American experience…" description: "\"It's the African-American experience. You've got to wear different masks. When you're in the hood, if you stand out, you get picked on for being weak. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/michael-b-jordan-3540_experience_it-s-the-african-american-experience-you_2347914.jpg" --- # It's the African-American experience. You've got to wear… ![“It's the African-American experience. You've got to wear different masks. When you're in the hood, if you stand out, you get picked on for being weak. Sometimes you have to hide your intelligence. In front of your boys, you might put on a bit of bravado, be a little bit tougher.” quote by Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/michael-b-jordan-3540_experience_it-s-the-african-american-experience-you_2347914.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/michael-b-jordan-3540_experience_it-s-the-african-american-experience-you_2347914.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/michael-b-jordan-3540_experience_it-s-the-african-american-experience-you_2347914.jpg) > “It's the African-American experience. You've got to wear different masks. When you're in the hood, if you stand out, you get picked on for being weak. Sometimes you have to hide your intelligence. In front of your boys, you might put on a bit of bravado, be a little bit tougher.” [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People adapt personas to survive social pressures, especially in marginalized communities. **In simple terms:** People wear masks to fit in. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect adaptive identities. Themes identity survival social pressure Mood thoughtful empathetic Type sociological personal When to use this quote - urban neighborhoods - school - workplace - social media Key Concepts code-switching cultural adaptation Questions to Reflect On - When have you felt you needed a mask? - How can society reduce the need for such masks? A Different Perspective Masks can limit authentic self-expression and cause internal conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Hide Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hide-intelligence-5705673/) [Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hood/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Masks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masks/) [Masks Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masks-hood-5705671/) [Weak Hide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak-hide-5705672/) [Wear Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wear-different-1395613/) ## Related quotes > [On a personal level, you wear different masks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tika-sumpter/on-a-personal-level-you-wear-different-masks/) [Tika Sumpter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tika-sumpter/) > [Women must be flexible to wear different hats in a day without losing who and what she really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pelita-uy/women-must-be-flexible-to-wear-different-hats-in-a-day-without-losing/) [Pelita Uy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pelita-uy/) > [Its so awkward when you finally get the courage to wear something different and then someone goes and totally kills all your vibes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-williams/its-so-awkward-when-you-finally-get-the-courage-to-wear-something/) [Hayley Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-williams/) > [When you wear something different, you have to be confident that not everyone may get it at first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-rocha/when-you-wear-something-different-you-have-to-be-confident-that-not/) [Coco Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-rocha/) > [Sometimes you just can't be afraid to wear a different hat. If Columbus had complied, this whole world might still be flat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-just-can-t-be-afraid-to-wear-a-different-hat-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My dad says that when I was two or three I used to go out dressed as a different character every day. I remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-eve/my-dad-says-that-when-i-was-two-or-three-i-used-to-go-out-dressed-as/) [Alice Eve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-eve/) > [I don't like women who are multiform, who wear many different shapes. Women who retain a unique shape are usually unique people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-rykiel/i-don-t-like-women-who-are-multiform-who-wear-many-different-shapes/) [Sonia Rykiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-rykiel/) > [I've been told to wear different things, to look different, to lose weight, to look sexier, to wear more hair, to wear more makeup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/i-ve-been-told-to-wear-different-things-to-look-different-to-lose/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [You are what you wear. I wear something different everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-haim/you-are-what-you-wear-i-wear-something-different-everyday/) [Corey Haim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-haim/) > [It's fun to dress up and look good. And it's fun to try on clothes and wear a different jacket every night. It also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-ramsey/it-s-fun-to-dress-up-and-look-good-and-it-s-fun-to-try-on-clothes-and/) [Matthew Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-ramsey/) > [“Gay diversity is like the Village People. You can all wear different stupid outfits as long as you sing the same stupid song.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-malebranche/gay-diversity-is-like-the-village-people-you-can-all-wear-different/) [Jack Malebranche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-malebranche/) > [You have to wear a different face when you're interacting with the larger culture. And you can be more of yourself at home or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nguyen-viet-thang/you-have-to-wear-a-different-face-when-you-re-interacting-with-the/) [Nguyen Viet Thang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nguyen-viet-thang/) > [You've always got to have the right blend of colour. You'd be silly to match a yellow t-shirt with a light green pair of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-murs/you-ve-always-got-to-have-the-right-blend-of-colour-you-d-be-silly-to/) [Olly Murs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-murs/) > [As Black women, there's so much pressure on us to be everything to everyone. We're expected to wear so many different hats, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-ja-wilson/as-black-women-there-s-so-much-pressure-on-us-to-be-everything-to/) [A'ja Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-ja-wilson/) > [I get to dress how I want, but sometimes I gotta wear different hats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-greenberg/i-get-to-dress-how-i-want-but-sometimes-i-gotta-wear-different-hats/) [Bryan Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-greenberg/) ## More by Michael B. Jordan > [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [In terms of experience with the police, everybody got those. It's such a reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/in-terms-of-experience-with-the-police-everybody-got-those-it-s-such/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [The world is a little more diverse in 2015 than when the Fantastic Four comic first came out in 1961.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/the-world-is-a-little-more-diverse-in-2015-than-when-the-fantastic/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [I wanted to start creating opportunities for actors out there that weren't so cut-and-dried... My ultimate goal with Outlier is to give these young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/i-wanted-to-start-creating-opportunities-for-actors-out-there-that/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [ \[Chris Evans\] is doing an amazing job with "Captain America." I really enjoy those films as well so that's kind of pretty much where… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/chris-evans-is-doing-an-amazing-job-with-captain-america-i-really/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [As an actor, you never want to feel like a tool. You never want to feel like, "Hey, just come here, say this, stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/as-an-actor-you-never-want-to-feel-like-a-tool-you-never-want-to-feel/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [We were shooting this movie called "Hardball," with Keanu Reeves. We shot in the city, and I just remember I couldn't really do too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/we-were-shooting-this-movie-called-hardball-with-keanu-reeves-we-shot/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [ Working with \[Kyle Chandler\] in the scene was like playing tennis. You work with really talented actors, I think they make other actors look… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/working-with-kyle-chandler-in-the-scene-was-like-playing-tennis-you/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Watching a really good movie excites me, because it makes we want to get up off the couch and go shoot something and act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/watching-a-really-good-movie-excites-me-because-it-makes-we-want-to/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Sometimes when you grieve, you grieve at a time where you don't really expect it. You might hear a song or you might smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/sometimes-when-you-grieve-you-grieve-at-a-time-where-you-don-t-really/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [I don't like speaking on things that I don't care about and that I'm not personally invested in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/i-don-t-like-speaking-on-things-that-i-don-t-care-about-and-that-i-m/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [I'm a tropical weather cruiser. I like surfing, you know. I like being on the beach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/i-m-a-tropical-weather-cruiser-i-like-surfing-you-know-i-like-being/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Definitely, as I get older and my taste buds change, I want to do different things. I'm not ready for directing yet, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/definitely-as-i-get-older-and-my-taste-buds-change-i-want-to-do/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [ How are people who are young and look like Oscar \[Grant\] portrayed in the media? You gotta think about that. And somebody given a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/how-are-people-who-are-young-and-look-like-oscar-grant-portrayed-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Creating the opportunities for other people and solid projects, things that I like, for sure, definitely. Acting I'll do forever, but I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/creating-the-opportunities-for-other-people-and-solid-projects-things/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) [Explore all 128 Michael B. Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) ## More Experience quotes > [Experience makes a lesson to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-makes-a-lesson-to-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [Education is a lifelong experience. Experience is a lifelong education. Education plus experience equals expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bugeja/education-is-a-lifelong-experience-experience-is-a-lifelong-education/) [Michael Bugeja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bugeja/) > [Prison experience puts distance between me and any person who hasn't been there, done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/prison-experience-puts-distance-between-me-and-any-person-who-hasn-t/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [Experience is a thorough teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-holmes/experience-is-a-thorough-teacher/) [Mary Jane Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-holmes/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I've had a great experience with pretty much everybody I've worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/i-ve-had-a-great-experience-with-pretty-much-everybody-i-ve-worked/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [It wasn't a mistake, it was a fun learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-wasn-t-a-mistake-it-was-a-fun-learning-experience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) [Browse all 11,792 Experience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's the African-American experience. You've got to wear different masks. When you're in the hood, if you stand out, you get picked on for being weak. Sometimes you have to hide your intelligence. In front of your boys, you might put on a bit of bravado, be a little bit tougher.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael B. 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