--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do think that it's a responsibility…" description: "\"I do think that it's a responsibility when there are so few of us as African Americans to kind of get to that place of success in a positive light. We ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b1/misty-copeland-2012_african-american_i-do-think-that-it-s-a-responsibility-wh_1460913.png" --- # I do think that it's a responsibility when there are so… ![“I do think that it's a responsibility when there are so few of us as African Americans to kind of get to that place of success in a positive light. We should take a stance and stand for something and use that platform for positivity.” quote by Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b1/misty-copeland-2012_african-american_i-do-think-that-it-s-a-responsibility-wh_1460913.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b1/misty-copeland-2012_african-american_i-do-think-that-it-s-a-responsibility-wh_1460913.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b1/misty-copeland-2012_african-american_i-do-think-that-it-s-a-responsibility-wh_1460913.png) > “I do think that it's a responsibility when there are so few of us as African Americans to kind of get to that place of success in a positive light. We should take a stance and stand for something and use that platform for positivity.” [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages African Americans to use limited representation as a platform for positive influence and leadership **In simple terms:** Use success to uplift community Key Takeaway Leverage success for positive impact Themes leadership representation community responsibility positivity Mood inspirational determined Type motivational leadership When to use this quote - Public speaking - mentorship - activism - media appearances Key Concepts Social influence role modeling empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn personal success into community benefit? - What responsibilities come with visibility? A Different Perspective Success alone doesn't guarantee influence; systemic barriers persist ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [African americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-americans/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Positivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positivity/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Stand for something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-for-something/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“Many guilty consciences have been created by the slave trade. Europeans know that they carried on the slave trade, and Africans are aware that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-rodney/many-guilty-consciences-have-been-created-by-the-slave-trade/) [Walter Rodney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-rodney/) > [But it's me taking a stand for something that means something. And it's for the fighters who are up and coming. It's sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather-jr/but-it-s-me-taking-a-stand-for-something-that-means-something-and-it/) [Floyd Mayweather, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather-jr/) > [I don't think every African-American or Latino have the same body type, but, yes, that's been one of the excuses ... saying that African-Americans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-don-t-think-every-african-american-or-latino-have-the-same-body/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [To have a platform like So You Think You Can Dance, where you're reaching this audience that's been created over the 10 years that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/to-have-a-platform-like-so-you-think-you-can-dance-where-you-re/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [“If you don’t have haters, you aren’t loving hard enough. If you don’t stand for something, you stand for nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/if-you-don-t-have-haters-you-aren-t-loving-hard-enough-if-you-don-t/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) > [It's good to stand for something, to believe in something and base your business on values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/it-s-good-to-stand-for-something-to-believe-in-something-and-base/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [Indifference is the acid of life. It erodes all the spirit that's in us and makes us useless to anyone else. We all have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/indifference-is-the-acid-of-life-it-erodes-all-the-spirit-that-s-in/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [It's not enough to be in the majority, you have to stand for something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russ-feingold/it-s-not-enough-to-be-in-the-majority-you-have-to-stand-for-something/) [Russ Feingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russ-feingold/) > [The Democrats were in the majority in the U.S. Senate when we voted for the Iraq war and passed the U.S. Patriot Act. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russ-feingold/the-democrats-were-in-the-majority-in-the-u-s-senate-when-we-voted/) [Russ Feingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russ-feingold/) > [It is not easy to stand up against your constituents or your friends or colleagues or your community and take a tough stand for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-kennedy/it-is-not-easy-to-stand-up-against-your-constituents-or-your-friends/) [Caroline Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-kennedy/) > [People have the idea that an image must stand for something else, that the real meaning needs to be described with language. Instead it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ryden/people-have-the-idea-that-an-image-must-stand-for-something-else-that/) [Mark Ryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ryden/) > [Kids these days are kind of going back to Tupac and Snoop Doggy Dogg as examples of people that stand for something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/kids-these-days-are-kind-of-going-back-to-tupac-and-snoop-doggy-dogg/) [Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/) > [If you don't stand for something, how can anyone respect what you do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-lambert/if-you-don-t-stand-for-something-how-can-anyone-respect-what-you-do/) [Miranda Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-lambert/) > [There is no more a 'political middle' than there is a family in America with 2.3 children. People with opinions take sides. Contrary to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/there-is-no-more-a-political-middle-than-there-is-a-family-in-america/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [Let how you live your life stand for something, no matter how small and incidental it may seem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/let-how-you-live-your-life-stand-for-something-no-matter-how-small/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) ## More by Misty Copeland > [I traced the marley floor with my pointe shoes, and imagine myself on the stage, not as a member of the corps, but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-traced-the-marley-floor-with-my-pointe-shoes-and-imagine-myself-on/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [When I was 16, I moved to Torrance, California to train at a more advanced studio, and by 19, I joined the American Ballet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/when-i-was-16-i-moved-to-torrance-california-to-train-at-a-more/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [To be empathetic to everyone around you, I think, is such a powerful thing to hold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/to-be-empathetic-to-everyone-around-you-i-think-is-such-a-powerful/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [My first ballet class was on a basketball court. I'm in my gym clothes and my socks trying to do this thing called ballet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/my-first-ballet-class-was-on-a-basketball-court-i-m-in-my-gym-clothes/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [There are muscles that we have in our feet that most human beings don't even know that we have. The strength that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/there-are-muscles-that-we-have-in-our-feet-that-most-human-beings-don/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/be-strong-be-fearless-be-beautiful-and-believe-that-anything-is/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [The woman represents ballet. She is most important, powerful and vital to it. Therefore, she is not "less than" a man. If anything she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/the-woman-represents-ballet-she-is-most-important-powerful-and-vital/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [If I'm put in a situation where I am not really sure what's going to happen, it can be overwhelming. I get a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/if-i-m-put-in-a-situation-where-i-am-not-really-sure-what-s-going-to/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I never experienced getting nervous on stage. I think I was most comfortable there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-never-experienced-getting-nervous-on-stage-i-think-i-was-most/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [The word "prodigy" was thrown around a lot, but I didn't understand what that meant, or the weight of it. It didn't really mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/the-word-prodigy-was-thrown-around-a-lot-but-i-didn-t-understand-what/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I think that the ideal physique and look of a ballerina is always changing with different eras. And it's continuing to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-think-that-the-ideal-physique-and-look-of-a-ballerina-is-always/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Once you become a professional, to get through a ballet like 'Swan Lake' - four acts as the lead, changing character - the perseverance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/once-you-become-a-professional-to-get-through-a-ballet-like-swan-lake/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Perseverance has always just been something that was in me. And it was a tool that came in very handy as a ballerina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/perseverance-has-always-just-been-something-that-was-in-me-and-it-was/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I was 17 when I moved to NYC . I'm now 32. But I do know I can't see myself living anywhere else. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-was-17-when-i-moved-to-nyc-i-m-now-32-but-i-do-know-i-can-t-see/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I grew up poor in San Pedro, California, sleeping on the floor of shady motels with my five siblings and not always sure when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-grew-up-poor-in-san-pedro-california-sleeping-on-the-floor-of-shady/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) [Explore all 191 Misty Copeland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) ## More African american quotes > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [“This popularity extended to Trump himself, who, according to private demographic research conducted at the time, was even more popular with African American and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/this-popularity-extended-to-trump-himself-who-according-to-private/) [Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [I think it's easier for African American and white comics to be praised than it is Latinos because they think our culture or our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-think-it-s-easier-for-african-american-and-white-comics-to-be/) [George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/) > [“Alabama in 1927 alone, 27,701 men were arrested on misdemeanor charges and offered for sale by county sheriffs. In Blackmon’s estimation, “roughly half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-haney-l-pez/alabama-in-1927-alone-27-701-men-were-arrested-on-misdemeanor-charges/) [Ian Haney López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-haney-l-pez/) > [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) [Browse all 1,848 African american quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I do think that it's a responsibility when there are so few of us as African Americans to kind of get to that place of success in a positive light. 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