--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've heard that Black people and Black…" description: "\"I've heard that Black people and Black faces don't sell magazines, but one day you're going to beg me to be on there.\" — Michael Jackson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49c/michael-jackson-411_black_i-ve-heard-that-black-people-and-black-f_48755.jpg" --- # I've heard that Black people and Black faces don't sell… ![“I've heard that Black people and Black faces don't sell magazines, but one day you're going to beg me to be on there.” quote by Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49c/michael-jackson-411_black_i-ve-heard-that-black-people-and-black-f_48755.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49c/michael-jackson-411_black_i-ve-heard-that-black-people-and-black-f_48755.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49c/michael-jackson-411_black_i-ve-heard-that-black-people-and-black-f_48755.jpg) > “I've heard that Black people and Black faces don't sell magazines, but one day you're going to beg me to be on there.” [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A critique of racial bias in media, highlighting how Black representation is undervalued until market forces demand it. **In simple terms:** Racial bias in publishing Key Takeaway Media often ignores Black audiences until profit motivates inclusion Themes racism media representation consumerism power dynamics social justice Mood defiant critical hopeful Type social commentary cultural critique When to use this quote - advertising strategy - magazine editorial decisions - media diversity debates - consumer targeting - brand positioning Key Concepts cultural invisibility economic incentives identity politics Practical Applications - advocacy for inclusive media - market analysis of representation Questions to Reflect On - How does profit influence representation? - What are the costs of ignoring diverse audiences? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-face/) [Black people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-people/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [The media love to cover black people on the front page. 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The black athlete carries the image of the black community. He carries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/seven-out-of-10-black-faces-you-see-on-television-are-athletes-the/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [I'm not interested in the ego trip of creating or not creating. I'm interested in selling a magazine. Rock-bottom, I sell magazines. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/i-m-not-interested-in-the-ego-trip-of-creating-or-not-creating-i-m/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [I'm in the worst place you can be. I sell magazines and not movie tickets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/i-m-in-the-worst-place-you-can-be-i-sell-magazines-and-not-movie/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [That 'who's the sexiest' business is a crock that the media cooked up to sell magazines, so while I say thank you very much,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/that-who-s-the-sexiest-business-is-a-crock-that-the-media-cooked-up/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [“You should go in there and take a pic of him in a compromising position. That would sell magazines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-jeanisse/you-should-go-in-there-and-take-a-pic-of-him-in-a-compromising/) [Bella Jeanisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-jeanisse/) > [If all we are for is black people and white people who like black people, then I have nothing to say to Trump who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/if-all-we-are-for-is-black-people-and-white-people-who-like-black/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [I spent seven months in Africa and came back saying there isn't anything you can say about black people that you couldn't say about,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-rivers/i-spent-seven-months-in-africa-and-came-back-saying-there-isn-t/) [Larry Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-rivers/) > [I thought comedians had to have black on their faces or red beards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-gish/i-thought-comedians-had-to-have-black-on-their-faces-or-red-beards/) [Dorothy Gish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-gish/) > [“At my first neighborhood community meeting, I faced nine worn, black faces and two white ones. I was easily the youngest person there by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-foley/at-my-first-neighborhood-community-meeting-i-faced-nine-worn-black/) Aaron Foley > [Growing up, a black face on TV was really rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/growing-up-a-black-face-on-tv-was-really-rare/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [Better have a black face than be worried about black deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/better-have-a-black-face-than-be-worried-about-black-deeds/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In all my years in show business - on stage, clubs and TV shows - my audience has been 75 percent white. In Las…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nipsey-russell/in-all-my-years-in-show-business-on-stage-clubs-and-tv-shows-my/) [Nipsey Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nipsey-russell/) ## More by Michael Jackson > [In times like these, we need each other. We must bond together in spirit and in service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/in-times-like-these-we-need-each-other-we-must-bond-together-in/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [I've never asked a girl out in my life, they have to ask me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-ve-never-asked-a-girl-out-in-my-life-they-have-to-ask-me/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [Elizabeth Taylor is gorgeous, beautiful, and she still is today, I'm crazy about her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/elizabeth-taylor-is-gorgeous-beautiful-and-she-still-is-today-i-m/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [I think a great artist should be able to create any style, any form, anything from rock to pop to gospel to spiritual, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-think-a-great-artist-should-be-able-to-create-any-style-any-form/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [There are people that I am in love with, totally in love with them. I would die for them. I love Michelangelo. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/there-are-people-that-i-am-in-love-with-totally-in-love-with-them-i/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [Those who criticize, they desire our blood not our pain. But still I must achieve I must seek truth in all things. I must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/those-who-criticize-they-desire-our-blood-not-our-pain-but-still-i/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [Please go for your dreams. Whatever your ideals, you can become whatever you want to become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/please-go-for-your-dreams-whatever-your-ideals-you-can-become/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [I go around the world dealing with running and hiding... I can't take a walk in the park . I can't go to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-go-around-the-world-dealing-with-running-and-hiding-i-can-t-take-a/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [“What happened to truth? Did it go out of style?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/what-happened-to-truth-did-it-go-out-of-style/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [If - and it can be in a movie or in a department store - I hear someone arguing with their child, I break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/if-and-it-can-be-in-a-movie-or-in-a-department-store-i-hear-someone/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [Everything that I love is behind those gates. We have elephants, and giraffes, and crocodiles, and every kind of tigers and lions. And -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/everything-that-i-love-is-behind-those-gates-we-have-elephants-and/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [My deepest gratitude to the Creator for His gift to me...the joy I receive in creating my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/my-deepest-gratitude-to-the-creator-for-his-gift-to-me-the-joy-i/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [I have been a vulnerable target for those who want money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-have-been-a-vulnerable-target-for-those-who-want-money/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [“It 's strange that God doesn't mind expressing Himself/Herself in all the religions of the world, while people still cling to the notion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/it-s-strange-that-god-doesn-t-mind-expressing-himself-herself-in-all/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/in-a-world-filled-with-hate-we-must-still-dare-to-hope-in-a-world/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) [Explore all 584 Michael Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) ## More Black quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. 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