--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think every African-American or…" description: "\"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 are ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cad/misty-copeland-2012_african-american_i-don-t-think-every-african-american-or_508808.png" --- # I don't think every African-American or Latino have the… ![“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 are too muscular or just aren't lean enough. Usually they say, "Oh, they have flat feet so they just don't have the flexibility that it takes to create…” quote by Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cad/misty-copeland-2012_african-american_i-don-t-think-every-african-american-or_508808.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cad/misty-copeland-2012_african-american_i-don-t-think-every-african-american-or_508808.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cad/misty-copeland-2012_african-american_i-don-t-think-every-african-american-or_508808.png) > “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 are too muscular or just aren't lean enough. Usually they say, "Oh, they have flat feet so they just don't have the flexibility that it takes to create the line in a point shoe."” [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. She challenges excuses about body type, arguing that stereotypes about African‑American athletes are often used to justify exclusion. **In simple terms:** She disputes stereotypes about body types. Key Takeaway Question and reject limiting stereotypes. Themes body image stereotypes athletics diversity Mood determined critical Type social educational When to use this quote - sports recruitment - fitness training - media representation Key Concepts racial bias muscle perception Questions to Reflect On - How can we promote inclusive standards? - What evidence counters these excuses? A Different Perspective Stereotypes can be deeply entrenched and hard to change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [African americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-americans/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Body types](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-types/) [Flexibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flexibility/) [Latino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latino/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Hip Hop is the rebirth of civilization. For people who were disconnected from their continent, from their language, from their culture, and from their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaal-bowman/hip-hop-is-the-rebirth-of-civilization-for-people-who-were/) [Jamaal Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaal-bowman/) > [Obamanomics, his imposition of European-style socialism, is not working for African-Americans. It is not working for Latinos and African-Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niger-innis/obamanomics-his-imposition-of-european-style-socialism-is-not-working/) [Niger Innis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niger-innis/) > [Despite all of the civil rights gains of the past several decades, when it comes to economic opportunity, African Americans and Latinos still experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-abramsky/despite-all-of-the-civil-rights-gains-of-the-past-several-decades/) [Sasha Abramsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-abramsky/) > [Ultimately, the main reason that you want more women in the sciences is the same reason you want more gay men in the sciences.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-santa-maria/ultimately-the-main-reason-that-you-want-more-women-in-the-sciences/) [Cara Santa Maria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-santa-maria/) > [I'm going to help the African-Americans. I'm going to help the Latinos, Hispanics. I am going to help the inner cities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-going-to-help-the-african-americans-i-m-going-to-help-the-latinos/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The fact is, yes, statistically, African Americans and Latinos are getting hit harder, but it's something that we can have real solidarity across racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/the-fact-is-yes-statistically-african-americans-and-latinos-are/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [It will be up to each of you to make sure that the young people, African Americans, Latinos, and women, who powered our victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-will-be-up-to-each-of-you-to-make-sure-that-the-young-people/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-do-think-that-it-s-a-responsibility-when-there-are-so-few-of-us-as/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [People need to be sensitive to all body types. Not everybody is meant to look the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athiya-shetty/people-need-to-be-sensitive-to-all-body-types-not-everybody-is-meant/) [Athiya Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/athiya-shetty/) > [As women, we are constantly criticising and judging ourselves in terms of our body, how we dress, what profession we take up, how we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vidya-balan/as-women-we-are-constantly-criticising-and-judging-ourselves-in-terms/) [Vidya Balan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vidya-balan/) > [It just so happens that my body type and my lifestyle gives me a preclusion for high blood sugars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/it-just-so-happens-that-my-body-type-and-my-lifestyle-gives-me-a/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [If you feel you are the body type, then running can be very beautiful for you: a four, five mile run every day. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/if-you-feel-you-are-the-body-type-then-running-can-be-very-beautiful/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [In general, we are sort of conditioned to see a different body type as acceptable and maybe look away when the other body type…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-nimoy/in-general-we-are-sort-of-conditioned-to-see-a-different-body-type-as/) [Leonard Nimoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-nimoy/) > [My shape reminds me a lot of my grandmother, whom I was really close to. She died when I was 13, and we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/my-shape-reminds-me-a-lot-of-my-grandmother-whom-i-was-really-close/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Be comfortable; be you. Whats most important is to understand what suits your body type and personality. Stick to that, and you cant go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/be-comfortable-be-you-whats-most-important-is-to-understand-what/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) ## 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. 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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 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 are too muscular or just aren't lean enough. 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