--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Beauty has always been an ​element of…" description: "\"Beauty has always been an ​element of discussion for black women, whether or not we were the ones having the conversation​. Out of necessity, black wom..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c6/mickalene-thomas-40460_beauty_beauty-has-always-been-an-element-of-dis_438362.jpg" --- # Beauty has always been an ​element of discussion for black… ![“Beauty has always been an ​element of discussion for black women, whether or not we were the ones having the conversation​. Out of necessity, black women have always had to consider others' perceptions of a certain beauty ideal, just starting with the skin color.” quote by Mickalene Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c6/mickalene-thomas-40460_beauty_beauty-has-always-been-an-element-of-dis_438362.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c6/mickalene-thomas-40460_beauty_beauty-has-always-been-an-element-of-dis_438362.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c6/mickalene-thomas-40460_beauty_beauty-has-always-been-an-element-of-dis_438362.jpg) > “Beauty has always been an ​element of discussion for black women, whether or not we were the ones having the conversation​. Out of necessity, black women have always had to consider others' perceptions of a certain beauty ideal, just starting with the skin color.” [Mickalene Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickalene-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Black women constantly navigate beauty standards imposed by society, starting with skin color, shaping self‑image and expression. **In simple terms:** Black women face imposed beauty standards. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge limiting beauty norms. Themes beauty identity race media self‑esteem Mood empowering thoughtful Type cultural inspirational When to use this quote - fashion - media representation - personal grooming - community dialogue Key Concepts critical theory intersectionality social construct Questions to Reflect On - How can you redefine beauty for yourself? - What role does community play in shaping standards? A Different Perspective The quote may overlook individual agency in redefining beauty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Beauty Ideal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty-ideal-716225/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-women/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Discussion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discussion/) [Discussion Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discussion-black-3849879/) [Perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perception/) [Skin color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skin-color/) [Skins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skins/) [Women Consider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-consider-239966/) ## Related quotes > [Beauty is in the ideal of perfect harmony which is in the universal being; truth the perfect comprehension of the universal mind. We individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/beauty-is-in-the-ideal-of-perfect-harmony-which-is-in-the-universal/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Today's beauty ideal, strictly enforced by the media, is a person with the same level of body fat as a paper clip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/today-s-beauty-ideal-strictly-enforced-by-the-media-is-a-person-with/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [I think French women are incredibly comfortable in their skin, whereas in the States people are striving more for one beauty ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-rowe/i-think-french-women-are-incredibly-comfortable-in-their-skin-whereas/) [Camille Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-rowe/) > [“By starving myself into society’s beauty ideal, I had compromised my success, my independence, and my quality of life. Being overweight was really no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-de-rossi/by-starving-myself-into-society-s-beauty-ideal-i-had-compromised-my/) [Portia de Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-de-rossi/) > [In Brazil, there isn't just one beauty ideal. There's a lot of emphasis on a woman's natural beauty - but of course, Brazilian women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-lima/in-brazil-there-isn-t-just-one-beauty-ideal-there-s-a-lot-of-emphasis/) [Adriana Lima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-lima/) > [ “Men who read it \[beauty pornography\] don't do so because they want women who look like that. The attraction of what they are holding… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/men-who-read-it-beauty-pornography-don-t-do-so-because-they-want/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [This beauty ideal is everywhere. You can't escape it - TV, wallpaper, posters, billboards, magazines. They put on these crazy perceptions about what people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurgen-teller/this-beauty-ideal-is-everywhere-you-can-t-escape-it-tv-wallpaper/) [Jurgen Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurgen-teller/) > [Without your voice being heard in Washington, the decisions we make aren't as good. I would urge women to consider public service. And if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-gillibrand/without-your-voice-being-heard-in-washington-the-decisions-we-make/) [Kirsten Gillibrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-gillibrand/) > [I think that all women should consider running for office. What's happening now is just horrifying. With the people we have - with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chirlane-mccray/i-think-that-all-women-should-consider-running-for-office-what-s/) [Chirlane McCray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chirlane-mccray/) > [“Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made. Some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and-2/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“IT is enough for the Men to find a thing establish'd to make them believe it well grounded. In all countries we are seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/it-is-enough-for-the-men-to-find-a-thing-establish-d-to-make-them/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [There is no occasion for women to consider themselves subordinate or inferior to man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/there-is-no-occasion-for-women-to-consider-themselves-subordinate-or/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [If you feel like it's hard to be friends with women, consider that maybe women aren't the problem. Maybe it's just you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/if-you-feel-like-it-s-hard-to-be-friends-with-women-consider-that/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [“Much of the prejudice against women is stored at an unconscious level. Many of those with the most punishing attitudes towards passionate women -and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/much-of-the-prejudice-against-women-is-stored-at-an-unconscious-level/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Women consider the gift's meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-watson/women-consider-the-gift-s-meaning/) [Albert Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-watson/) ## More by Mickalene Thomas > [I knew what I was doing, but I never really considered the magnitude of how my images were transformative to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickalene-thomas/i-knew-what-i-was-doing-but-i-never-really-considered-the-magnitude/) [Mickalene Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickalene-thomas/) > [I think what I have done is claimed the space and pushed it forward as much as I can in relationship to who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickalene-thomas/i-think-what-i-have-done-is-claimed-the-space-and-pushed-it-forward/) [Mickalene Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickalene-thomas/) > [I love knowing and learning about people around the world displaying my art online. Also, it's how I learn about new artists that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickalene-thomas/i-love-knowing-and-learning-about-people-around-the-world-displaying/) [Mickalene Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickalene-thomas/) > [I'm using the grid as formation. I wanted a relationship between the paintings and videos so that way when you are looking at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickalene-thomas/i-m-using-the-grid-as-formation-i-wanted-a-relationship-between-the/) [Mickalene Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickalene-thomas/) > [I grew up with a lot of brothers and I don't have any sisters, so for me it's really important to develop my sisterhood.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickalene-thomas/i-grew-up-with-a-lot-of-brothers-and-i-don-t-have-any-sisters-so-for/) [Mickalene Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickalene-thomas/) > [I got really excited about finding new ways of using video, and the immediacy is different, in a way, than painting and photography. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickalene-thomas/i-got-really-excited-about-finding-new-ways-of-using-video-and-the/) [Mickalene Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickalene-thomas/) > [Beauty was so heavily important in my family, something I had to contend with. All those experiences allow me to make what I'm making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickalene-thomas/beauty-was-so-heavily-important-in-my-family-something-i-had-to/) [Mickalene Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickalene-thomas/) > [Here I am, the artist, the person, the black woman, and the stereotype. I'm using myself and it has nothing to do with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickalene-thomas/here-i-am-the-artist-the-person-the-black-woman-and-the-stereotype-i/) [Mickalene Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickalene-thomas/) > [We all have some flaws. But when I have a moment of doubt, I find inspiration from being in the moment, by letting go.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickalene-thomas/we-all-have-some-flaws-but-when-i-have-a-moment-of-doubt-i-find/) [Mickalene Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickalene-thomas/) > [Hotels are amazing spaces and platform for activism. If they placed voting booths in hotels and other space of hospitality - a lot more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickalene-thomas/hotels-are-amazing-spaces-and-platform-for-activism-if-they-placed/) [Mickalene Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickalene-thomas/) [Explore all 11 Mickalene Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickalene-thomas/) ## More Beauty quotes > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. What we really want is an Asram. We want a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/we-do-not-want-nowadays-temples-of-worship-and-outward-rites-and/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [How could anybody confuse truth with beauty, I thought as I looked at him. Truth came with sunken eyes, bony or scarred, decayed. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/how-could-anybody-confuse-truth-with-beauty-i-thought-as-i-looked-at/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [To fathom the power, to witness the beauty, to bathe in the fountain, to swing on the spiral of our divinity, and still be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tool/to-fathom-the-power-to-witness-the-beauty-to-bathe-in-the-fountain-to/) [Tool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tool/) > [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/) > [“We've all met people who are beautiful on the outside, however, when they open their mouths to speak, they have nothing of substance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/we-ve-all-met-people-who-are-beautiful-on-the-outside-however-when/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of themselves in various styles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-are-various-orders-of-beauty-causing-men-to-make-fools-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [To me, the beauty of a quilt or a dress lies within the stitches and the thought of the person who made them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie/to-me-the-beauty-of-a-quilt-or-a-dress-lies-within-the-stitches-and/) [Natalie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie/) > [“do not misunderstand person by beauty You really do not know its real or Mask on dirty thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/do-not-misunderstand-person-by-beauty-you-really-do-not-know-its-real/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Call her beautiful a million times and she won't believe you. Call her ugly once, and she will never forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tumblr/call-her-beautiful-a-million-times-and-she-won-t-believe-you-call-her/) [Tumblr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tumblr/) > [Time can but make her beauty over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/time-can-but-make-her-beauty-over-again/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [“What about you? What do you do?” I needed to ask questions, draw him out. I needed to find out all the information I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-avery-ellison/what-about-you-what-do-you-do-i-needed-to-ask-questions-draw-him-out/) [Kate Avery Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-avery-ellison/) [Browse all 24,662 Beauty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Beauty has always been an ​element of discussion for black women, whether or not we were the ones having the conversation​. 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