--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's hard for black women to ask for…" description: "\"It's hard for black women to ask for help. We think we don't need it. We're used to being in pain and living with it.\" — Morgan Parker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/morgan-parker-6193_ask-for-help_it-s-hard-for-black-women-to-ask-for-hel_1546656.jpg" --- # It's hard for black women to ask for help. We think we… ![“It's hard for black women to ask for help. We think we don't need it. We're used to being in pain and living with it.” quote by Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/morgan-parker-6193_ask-for-help_it-s-hard-for-black-women-to-ask-for-hel_1546656.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/morgan-parker-6193_ask-for-help_it-s-hard-for-black-women-to-ask-for-hel_1546656.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/morgan-parker-6193_ask-for-help_it-s-hard-for-black-women-to-ask-for-hel_1546656.jpg) > “It's hard for black women to ask for help. We think we don't need it. We're used to being in pain and living with it.” [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) ## 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 often internalize self-reliance, making it hard to seek assistance despite chronic hardship. **In simple terms:** Black women avoid asking for help despite pain. Key Takeaway Recognize and share your needs. Themes identity self-reliance mental health gender race Mood reflective empathetic Type personal social When to use this quote - workplace - healthcare - community support - friendship Key Concepts systemic oppression resilience social expectations Questions to Reflect On - How can you safely request support? - What barriers keep you from seeking help? A Different Perspective Cultural norms may discourage vulnerability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-women/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“When you refuse to ask for help, it tells others that they also shouldn't ask for help from you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/when-you-refuse-to-ask-for-help-it-tells-others-that-they-also/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“I didn’t tell the story to ask for help because I knew there was no help.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/i-didn-t-tell-the-story-to-ask-for-help-because-i-knew-there-was-no/) [China Miéville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [I wanna say to anybody that's trying to come up and go viral, push forward. Don't stop. Don't wait for nobody. Do it yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fivio-foreign/i-wanna-say-to-anybody-that-s-trying-to-come-up-and-go-viral-push/) [Fivio Foreign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fivio-foreign/) > [“Be strong enough to stand on your own two feet, but wise enough to know when to ask for help.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/be-strong-enough-to-stand-on-your-own-two-feet-but-wise-enough-to/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [“You can’t do everything for everyone, not even for yourself. It’s okay to ask for help when you need it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/you-can-t-do-everything-for-everyone-not-even-for-yourself-it-s-okay/) [Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/) > [Ask for help. Not because you are weak. But because you want to remain strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/ask-for-help-not-because-you-are-weak-but-because-you-want-to-remain/) [Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/) > [The best advice I can give to anyone going through a rough patch is to never be afraid to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/the-best-advice-i-can-give-to-anyone-going-through-a-rough-patch-is/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Ask for help when you need it. Even from your parents. There is no shame in needing help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ask-for-help-when-you-need-it-even-from-your-parents-there-is-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the biggest defects in life is the inability to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/one-of-the-biggest-defects-in-life-is-the-inability-to-ask-for-help/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [When you ask for help listen. It's one thing to ask the question and it's another thing to listen to the answer. Many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/when-you-ask-for-help-listen-it-s-one-thing-to-ask-the-question-and/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [“I learned that when you ask for help it will always be given. If you try to work with spirit then they will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rathore/i-learned-that-when-you-ask-for-help-it-will-always-be-given-if-you/) [Michelle Rathore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rathore/) > [In American culture at large, but especially in African American culture, it's a sign of weakness to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/in-american-culture-at-large-but-especially-in-african-american/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [“Most of those who think their strength is gone and ask for help from others do not know that the strength that seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/most-of-those-who-think-their-strength-is-gone-and-ask-for-help-from/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Don't be ashamed to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-ashamed-to-ask-for-help/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Is that you? When you fail, are you too humiliated or ashamed to ask for help? When you suffer, are you too embarrassed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-berg/is-that-you-when-you-fail-are-you-too-humiliated-or-ashamed-to-ask/) [Art Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-berg/) ## More by Morgan Parker > [It's always hard for me to find a therapist who is a black woman or even a woman of color. It's something that we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/it-s-always-hard-for-me-to-find-a-therapist-who-is-a-black-woman-or/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [ I liked the idea of using this mega-star \[Beyoncé \] to talk about all those things on the tiny scale of my life. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/i-liked-the-idea-of-using-this-mega-star-beyonc-to-talk-about-all/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [I think that we need to make it our goal to define freedom for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/i-think-that-we-need-to-make-it-our-goal-to-define-freedom-for/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [“I admired how perfectly matched they seemed to be, and I started to wonder about my own, personal definition of love. Had it been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/i-admired-how-perfectly-matched-they-seemed-to-be-and-i-started-to/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [“Writers are always scrapping one word for a better one. Regular people just say stuff, they don't replace there words ever. Its the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/writers-are-always-scrapping-one-word-for-a-better-one-regular-people/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [ The book \[There are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé?\] is quite complex, and I was worried that it would be marketed as one-sided or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/the-book-there-are-more-beautiful-things-than-beyonc-is-quite-complex/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [We kind of have to rewrite our own stories and our own ways of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/we-kind-of-have-to-rewrite-our-own-stories-and-our-own-ways-of-being/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [“...Love isn't a heart condition. It's not even an emotional one. It's just a four-letter word we want to use when we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/love-isn-t-a-heart-condition-it-s-not-even-an-emotional-one-it-s-just/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [“A non-fucking fuck-friend, I guess. A non-friction friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/a-non-fucking-fuck-friend-i-guess-a-non-friction-friend/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [“All you’ve done is remind me of what an asshole you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/all-you-ve-done-is-remind-me-of-what-an-asshole-you-are/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [“I am a dreamer with empty hands and I like the chill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/i-am-a-dreamer-with-empty-hands-and-i-like-the-chill/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [“You're a writer, though. Your words are malleable, replaceable, and by definition untrustworthy. they mean nothing to you and that's what I'm afraid I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/you-re-a-writer-though-your-words-are-malleable-replaceable-and-by/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [There was something about Beyoncé that felt like a vessel, I guess, that I could kind of impose all of these feelings and thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/there-was-something-about-beyonc-that-felt-like-a-vessel-i-guess-that/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [Where I would usually backspace, I stop and say, "You know what? This is important, that I say how I feel and don't sugarcoat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/where-i-would-usually-backspace-i-stop-and-say-you-know-what-this-is/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) > [“i believe that “love” is not about forgiveness, it’s about acceptance, and acceptance keeps relationships alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-parker/i-believe-that-love-is-not-about-forgiveness-it-s-about-acceptance/) [Morgan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) [Explore all 99 Morgan Parker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-parker/) ## More Ask for help quotes > [“What do we do in the dark night? We do nothing. We wait. We remember that we are not God. We hold on. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/what-do-we-do-in-the-dark-night-we-do-nothing-we-wait-we-remember/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“When you refuse to ask for help, it tells others that they also shouldn't ask for help from you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/when-you-refuse-to-ask-for-help-it-tells-others-that-they-also/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [Strength wasn‘t about being able to do everything alone. Strength was knowing when to ask for help and not being too proud to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/strength-wasn-t-about-being-able-to-do-everything-alone-strength-was/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Don't be ashamed to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-ashamed-to-ask-for-help/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Any fool that had once helped you will someday make known to everyone that you were once a needy. No matter how broke you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/any-fool-that-had-once-helped-you-will-someday-make-known-to-everyone/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Is this okay with you, Jenna? For him to stay here?" "Yeah," I said. "It's good. You have no idea what it takes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-zarr/is-this-okay-with-you-jenna-for-him-to-stay-here-yeah-i-said-it-s/) [Sara Zarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-zarr/) > [“Weep and ask for help. Lean on me with your runny nose. Cry when you feel like crying. Laugh when you feel like laughing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorachi-hideaki/weep-and-ask-for-help-lean-on-me-with-your-runny-nose-cry-when-you/) [Sorachi Hideaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorachi-hideaki/) > [“Most of those who think their strength is gone and ask for help from others do not know that the strength that seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/most-of-those-who-think-their-strength-is-gone-and-ask-for-help-from/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I used to think I was tough, but there's a difference between bravado and courage, and I only started to show courage when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-used-to-think-i-was-tough-but-there-s-a-difference-between-bravado/) [Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/) > [“Telling a true friend that you need something makes it unnecessary for you to ask them for that thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/telling-a-true-friend-that-you-need-something-makes-it-unnecessary/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > ["A closed mouth doesn't get fed." Oftentimes, we feel not worthy or we don't want to bother people. We forget to ask for help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-daniels/a-closed-mouth-doesn-t-get-fed-oftentimes-we-feel-not-worthy-or-we/) [Kevin Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-daniels/) > [In American culture at large, but especially in African American culture, it's a sign of weakness to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/in-american-culture-at-large-but-especially-in-african-american/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [“I learned that when you ask for help it will always be given. If you try to work with spirit then they will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rathore/i-learned-that-when-you-ask-for-help-it-will-always-be-given-if-you/) [Michelle Rathore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rathore/) > [ “- \[Regret,Cause you didn't ask for help\] is better than \[Regret,cause you did\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-hosny/regret-cause-you-didn-t-ask-for-help-is-better-than-regret-cause-you/) Omar Hosny > [I am not embarrassed to say that when I was at my worst I took anti-depressants because I think people need to hear that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/i-am-not-embarrassed-to-say-that-when-i-was-at-my-worst-i-took-anti/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) Browse all 280 Ask for help quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's hard for black women to ask for help. We think we don't need it. 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