--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I grew up in the projects with four older…" description: "\"I grew up in the projects with four older brothers. And there were tough, macho gangsters, drug dealers, killers, and thugs all in my neighborhood. And..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/michael-che-13783_brother_i-grew-up-in-the-projects-with-four-olde_1530333.jpg" --- # I grew up in the projects with four older brothers. And… ![“I grew up in the projects with four older brothers. And there were tough, macho gangsters, drug dealers, killers, and thugs all in my neighborhood. And they were afraid of my mother. So, yeah, I know some strong women.” quote by Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/michael-che-13783_brother_i-grew-up-in-the-projects-with-four-olde_1530333.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/michael-che-13783_brother_i-grew-up-in-the-projects-with-four-olde_1530333.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/michael-che-13783_brother_i-grew-up-in-the-projects-with-four-olde_1530333.jpg) > “I grew up in the projects with four older brothers. And there were tough, macho gangsters, drug dealers, killers, and thugs all in my neighborhood. And they were afraid of my mother. So, yeah, I know some strong women.” [Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-che/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Growing up surrounded by hardship and strong women taught resilience and respect for powerful female figures. **In simple terms:** Hardship and strong women shaped his view. Key Takeaway Respect and learn from strong women. Themes resilience family gender dynamics Mood reflective inspirational Type personal narrative inspirational When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - community mentorship - personal growth Key Concepts sociology psychology role models Questions to Reflect On - How did those women influence his outlook? - What can we learn from tough neighborhoods? A Different Perspective Strong women can be both supportive and intimidating. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Gangsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gangsters/) [Killers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killers/) [Macho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/macho/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Neighborhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighborhood/) [Older brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older-brother/) [Older brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/older-brothers/) [Strong women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-women/) ## Related quotes > [I am not allowed to be afraid. My mother made me like that. As a child, if I was afraid of the dark, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/i-am-not-allowed-to-be-afraid-my-mother-made-me-like-that-as-a-child/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [“Dorothy's coming up. I think she's tight." "That's great." I picked up my bathrobe. "I was afraid I was going to have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/dorothy-s-coming-up-i-think-she-s-tight-that-s-great-i-picked-up-my/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [I think I was afraid of being a mother for many reasons. I wanted to be a good mom, and I was fearful at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-earhardt/i-think-i-was-afraid-of-being-a-mother-for-many-reasons-i-wanted-to/) [Ainsley Earhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-earhardt/) > [“Mother, listen to me. Now's your chance, do you hear? I know that when I start to talk about what I really think and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-maxwell/mother-listen-to-me-now-s-your-chance-do-you-hear-i-know-that-when-i/) [William Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-maxwell/) > [“My mother, Woman with Many Robes, asks if you want to eat?” Loretta gave an emphatic shake of her head, pressing closer to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/my-mother-woman-with-many-robes-asks-if-you-want-to-eat-loretta-gave/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [I'm afraid of my mother's paranoia. The more she watches Fox News, the more afraid she gets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adsit/i-m-afraid-of-my-mother-s-paranoia-the-more-she-watches-fox-news-the/) [Scott Adsit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adsit/) > [Believe me, I'm more afraid of my mother than any opponent in the ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dereck-chisora/believe-me-i-m-more-afraid-of-my-mother-than-any-opponent-in-the-ring/) [Dereck Chisora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dereck-chisora/) > [Don't be silly. I'm a mature, intelligent woman. Of course I'm afraid of my mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/don-t-be-silly-i-m-a-mature-intelligent-woman-of-course-i-m-afraid-of/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [I grew up in the projects with four older brothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-che/i-grew-up-in-the-projects-with-four-older-brothers/) [Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-che/) > [When you have a candidate like Donald Trump saying that Mexicans are rapists and drug dealers, and also doubling down and suggesting that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-wasserman-schultz/when-you-have-a-candidate-like-donald-trump-saying-that-mexicans-are/) [Debbie Wasserman Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-wasserman-schultz/) > [The exploitation agenda advocated by liberals is modeled after the dependency-inducing design of the drug dealer's business model: "We'll supply the first hit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-mcglowan/the-exploitation-agenda-advocated-by-liberals-is-modeled-after-the/) Angela McGlowan > [I don't think anyone's ever thought I was a drug dealer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mewes/i-don-t-think-anyone-s-ever-thought-i-was-a-drug-dealer/) [Jason Mewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mewes/) > [She thinks I’m a drug dealer. (Chris) ‘The most “illegal” thing the boy had ever done was to walk past a Salvation Army Santa…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/she-thinks-i-m-a-drug-dealer-chris-the-most-illegal-thing-the-boy-had/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I am surprised that many people disregard the fact that the end for almost all drug dealers ends up being the cemetery or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-pablo-escobar/i-am-surprised-that-many-people-disregard-the-fact-that-the-end-for/) [Juan Pablo Escobar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-pablo-escobar/) > [You are a drug dealer. To tiny faeries. Shame." Sanya to Dresden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/you-are-a-drug-dealer-to-tiny-faeries-shame-sanya-to-dresden/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) ## More by Michael Che > [If you really think everything in your life, everything that you benefit from comes from socially aware, like-minded, good-hearted people, then you're out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-che/if-you-really-think-everything-in-your-life-everything-that-you/) [Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-che/) > [If you're honest about things, people will trust you, even if you're a bad guy. That says something about where we are and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-che/if-you-re-honest-about-things-people-will-trust-you-even-if-you-re-a/) [Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-che/) > [Of course there's a backlash. Of course. Look, half the country voted for Donald Trump. But I think one of the things that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-che/of-course-there-s-a-backlash-of-course-look-half-the-country-voted/) [Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-che/) > [Donald Trump is Donald Trump! He doesn't apologize for who he is. We know he's tacky. We know he's orange. We know he's got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-che/donald-trump-is-donald-trump-he-doesn-t-apologize-for-who-he-is-we/) [Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-che/) > [You can go anywhere in New York. There's always something to do in New York. There's always a place to eat no matter what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-che/you-can-go-anywhere-in-new-york-there-s-always-something-to-do-in-new/) [Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-che/) > [One of the hardest things in the world to say is "President Trump," and not out of disrespect - just because people have known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-che/one-of-the-hardest-things-in-the-world-to-say-is-president-trump-and/) [Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-che/) > [I always feel like you don't do comedy for the special - you do the specials so you can do comedy. That's like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-che/i-always-feel-like-you-don-t-do-comedy-for-the-special-you-do-the/) [Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-che/) > [I've learned a lot just being around people who grew up so differently from me, which is cool. It teaches you how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-che/i-ve-learned-a-lot-just-being-around-people-who-grew-up-so/) [Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-che/) > [To deliver something deadpan is very difficult; I don't think people know how hard those jokes are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-che/to-deliver-something-deadpan-is-very-difficult-i-don-t-think-people/) [Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-che/) > [I feel like most standup comedians do it the way I did it, where you just go to open mics and cut your teeth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-che/i-feel-like-most-standup-comedians-do-it-the-way-i-did-it-where-you/) [Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-che/) > [I remember liking the MTV awards when I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-che/i-remember-liking-the-mtv-awards-when-i-was-a-kid/) [Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-che/) > [I would say Colin Jost is Kanye West because he takes like the creative risk a lot of times, whereas I'm like, "Uh, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-che/i-would-say-colin-jost-is-kanye-west-because-he-takes-like-the/) [Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-che/) > [I can tell how honest a joke is or how true a joke is by how fast the laughs come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-che/i-can-tell-how-honest-a-joke-is-or-how-true-a-joke-is-by-how-fast-the/) [Michael Che](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-che/) > [Donald Trump is making decisions that affect people's day-to-day life, and he's constantly, constantly making some crazy announcement. 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As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [Luckily, the bullet that hit my chest never got to me. It was stopped by a silver case I got for my brother's wedding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-doohan/luckily-the-bullet-that-hit-my-chest-never-got-to-me-it-was-stopped/) [James Doohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-doohan/) > [“Yeah. You treat him like a son or a soldier, instead of like a brother. He wants you to like him and admire him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hunter/yeah-you-treat-him-like-a-son-or-a-soldier-instead-of-like-a-brother/) [Faith Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hunter/) > [“Your relationship with your brother will be, in many ways, the most complex and bewildering of all the interpersonal connections you will form. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-currie-jr/your-relationship-with-your-brother-will-be-in-many-ways-the-most/) [Ron Currie Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-currie-jr/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [There's no publicist, no advertisements, and no one's pushing us. If people are buying our records, it's because big brothers and sisters or friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-moody/there-s-no-publicist-no-advertisements-and-no-one-s-pushing-us-if/) Spencer Moody > [The only way to make sure that the Hand didn't get to you would have been to kill your brother. I could've done it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/the-only-way-to-make-sure-that-the-hand-didn-t-get-to-you-would-have/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“Your favorite son and brother, Shade. Like”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-aveyard/your-favorite-son-and-brother-shade-like/) [Victoria Aveyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-aveyard/) > [Sister + brother = a lovely family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sister-brother-a-lovely-family/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. 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