--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was going to school, I just wanted…" description: "\"When I was going to school, I just wanted to be like everybody else. I would pull at my hair to try and get it to lie straight. America was where I wou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/neneh-cherry-11528_absorb_when-i-was-going-to-school-i-just-wanted_2277432.jpg" --- # When I was going to school, I just wanted to be like… ![“When I was going to school, I just wanted to be like everybody else. I would pull at my hair to try and get it to lie straight. America was where I would consume and absorb black culture, buy Ultra Sheen and watch 'Soul Train,' but I still had that weird in-between thing.” quote by Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/neneh-cherry-11528_absorb_when-i-was-going-to-school-i-just-wanted_2277432.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/neneh-cherry-11528_absorb_when-i-was-going-to-school-i-just-wanted_2277432.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/neneh-cherry-11528_absorb_when-i-was-going-to-school-i-just-wanted_2277432.jpg) > “When I was going to school, I just wanted to be like everybody else. I would pull at my hair to try and get it to lie straight. America was where I would consume and absorb black culture, buy Ultra Sheen and watch 'Soul Train,' but I still had that weird in-between thing.” [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker desired normalcy but was drawn to distinct cultural influences, feeling caught between worlds. **In simple terms:** Desire for belonging conflicted with cultural curiosity. Key Takeaway Embrace both sides of your identity. Themes identity culture belonging conflict Mood reflective hopeful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - education - media consumption - social integration - self‑acceptance Key Concepts sociology personal narrative cultural hybridity Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile differing cultural influences? - What parts of each culture enrich you? A Different Perspective Feeling split can cause identity confusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Black culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-culture/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair/) [In-between](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/in-between/) [Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lie/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sheen/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Soul train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul-train/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) ## Related quotes > [Martin Sheen is my pinup! And Allison Janney, oh my God. They're brilliant actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-thompson/martin-sheen-is-my-pinup-and-allison-janney-oh-my-god-they-re/) [Sophie Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-thompson/) > [I've never met Charlie Sheen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/i-ve-never-met-charlie-sheen/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [I had been very impressed with the voiceover of 'Apocalypse Now,' with Martin Sheen's voice. That was a great voiceover; it really internalized the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/i-had-been-very-impressed-with-the-voiceover-of-apocalypse-now-with/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/) > [Just like gold, which has to weather very high temperatures to achieve the sheen and shine it finally gets, so also every person has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-kher/just-like-gold-which-has-to-weather-very-high-temperatures-to-achieve/) [Kailash Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-kher/) > [“Have you noticed how Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen look nothing alike, and yet they both manage to look exactly like their father, Martin?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-o-neill/have-you-noticed-how-emilio-estevez-and-charlie-sheen-look-nothing/) Ken O'Neill > [My husband and Charlie Sheen played Little League together. They've always been best friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-langenkamp/my-husband-and-charlie-sheen-played-little-league-together-they-ve/) [Heather Langenkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-langenkamp/) > [As Chlarie Sheen says, this article is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janese/as-chlarie-sheen-says-this-article-is/) Janese > [In 'Wall Street,' Charlie Sheen carried that movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/in-wall-street-charlie-sheen-carried-that-movie/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [Charlie Sheen was such a pro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lynch/charlie-sheen-was-such-a-pro/) [Jane Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lynch/) > [One of the interesting things about Twitter is looking how famous people choose to use it. Take someone like Steve Martin, who I follow:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/one-of-the-interesting-things-about-twitter-is-looking-how-famous/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [I would never go on an intimate date with Charlie Sheen. He is really not my type at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/i-would-never-go-on-an-intimate-date-with-charlie-sheen-he-is-really/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) > [I am on a drug. It's called Charlie Sheen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/i-am-on-a-drug-it-s-called-charlie-sheen/) [Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/) > [It was an instinct to put the world in order that powered her mending split infinitives and snipping off dangling participles, smoothing away the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leavitt/it-was-an-instinct-to-put-the-world-in-order-that-powered-her-mending/) [David Leavitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leavitt/) > [Was charlie sheen on like mike?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-blackson/was-charlie-sheen-on-like-mike/) [Michael Blackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-blackson/) > [Charlie Sheen is to stand-up what Larry Flynt is to standing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/charlie-sheen-is-to-stand-up-what-larry-flynt-is-to-standing-up/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) ## More by Neneh Cherry > [I like Kelela. I like Twigs. I love the more old school; I hate to say old school, but I love Peaches; I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-like-kelela-i-like-twigs-i-love-the-more-old-school-i-hate-to-say/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [A lot of young musicians in Stockholm are about keeping tradition alive and moving it forward at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/a-lot-of-young-musicians-in-stockholm-are-about-keeping-tradition/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [I always found very strong images for my songwriting in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-always-found-very-strong-images-for-my-songwriting-in-new-york/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [I've always worked with my partner, my husband, Cameron, since 'Raw Like Sushi,' and in a way, I feel very free with what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-ve-always-worked-with-my-partner-my-husband-cameron-since-raw-like/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [Being a grandmother is one of the least strange things in my life. It makes more sense than a lot of things... like photo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/being-a-grandmother-is-one-of-the-least-strange-things-in-my-life-it/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [I love collard greens and sweet potatoes. But like, traveling, I'm always just looking for that thing where you feel like there's love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-love-collard-greens-and-sweet-potatoes-but-like-traveling-i-m/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [My kids love Ibiza and we feel committed to it because we keep coming back to the same area. People recognise us in shops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/my-kids-love-ibiza-and-we-feel-committed-to-it-because-we-keep-coming/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [Rhythm, that's an essential part of cooking. The sound of a lovely song and the smell of some dish in the oven are equally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/rhythm-that-s-an-essential-part-of-cooking-the-sound-of-a-lovely-song/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [To save my child, I'd rather go hungry. I got all of Ethiopia inside of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/to-save-my-child-i-d-rather-go-hungry-i-got-all-of-ethiopia-inside-of/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [When I found out I was pregnant, my mother said, 'Don't separate your life, the life that you're going to make with this child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/when-i-found-out-i-was-pregnant-my-mother-said-don-t-separate-your/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [What's sometimes really overwhelming in Sweden is the uniformity. People kind of disappear by all looking the same and wearing the same clothes. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/what-s-sometimes-really-overwhelming-in-sweden-is-the-uniformity/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [When I found out I was pregnant, my mother said, 'Dont separate your life, the life that youre going to make with this child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/when-i-found-out-i-was-pregnant-my-mother-said-dont-separate-your/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [I try not to be superstitious, but, you know, we never put any shoes on the table. That's totally against the law in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-try-not-to-be-superstitious-but-you-know-we-never-put-any-shoes-on/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [I love Robyn, not just because we've worked together. I mean, that's why we've worked together - because I love her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-love-robyn-not-just-because-we-ve-worked-together-i-mean-that-s-why/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [I'm allergic to doing the obvious thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-m-allergic-to-doing-the-obvious-thing/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) [Explore all 59 Neneh Cherry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) ## More Absorb quotes > [The absence of God in most spheres of life is perceived to be normal, and even Christians feel it as normal - which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-absence-of-god-in-most-spheres-of-life-is-perceived-to-be-normal/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [We were interested in this notion of compression- a lot of the songs were really short so that you'd absorb them in memory rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arto-lindsay/we-were-interested-in-this-notion-of-compression-a-lot-of-the-songs/) [Arto Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arto-lindsay/) > [“Always read…always learn…always absorb.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pia-leba-talmud/always-read-always-learn-always-absorb/) Pia Leba Talmud > [If you're very open to watching the world go by, with people's different tics, you absorb it all without realizing it and find ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-blunt/if-you-re-very-open-to-watching-the-world-go-by-with-people-s/) [Emily Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-blunt/) > [“…he was doing a breath hydrogen test. If you know the amount of hydrogen someone is exhaling orally, it's a simple matter to extrapolate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/he-was-doing-a-breath-hydrogen-test-if-you-know-the-amount-of/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [I would spend hours absorbing every intonation, every inflection - how the singer would convey a sentiment and how it would sound coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-edmonson/i-would-spend-hours-absorbing-every-intonation-every-inflection-how/) [Kat Edmonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-edmonson/) > [Be a mirror, absorb everything around you and still remain the same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/be-a-mirror-absorb-everything-around-you-and-still-remain-the-same/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [To Kiss : An attempt to absorb the essence of the other person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/to-kiss-an-attempt-to-absorb-the-essence-of-the-other-person/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [Most of the things you absorb you will ultimately secrete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/most-of-the-things-you-absorb-you-will-ultimately-secrete/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [You absorb 2,000 years of history just by being near the Thames.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/you-absorb-2-000-years-of-history-just-by-being-near-the-thames/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [We live with incessant music, all the time. It's like some weird musical purgatory, there is absolutely no rest for the ears, no space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-blake/we-live-with-incessant-music-all-the-time-it-s-like-some-weird/) [James Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-blake/) > [Technology teaches passivity. Absorbed in our devices - at any age - we are absorbed in someone else's perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/technology-teaches-passivity-absorbed-in-our-devices-at-any-age-we/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [A man, to read, must read alone. He may make extracts, he may work at books in company; but to read, to absorb, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/a-man-to-read-must-read-alone-he-may-make-extracts-he-may-work-at/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [Console yourself, you're better alone destroy yourself, see who gives a fuck. Absorb yourself, you're better alone destroy yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamb-of-god/console-yourself-you-re-better-alone-destroy-yourself-see-who-gives-a/) [Lamb Of God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamb-of-god/) > [In '77 there was no Internet, there was no Twitter or Facebook, and I think that, without being some old git who hates anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jones/in-77-there-was-no-internet-there-was-no-twitter-or-facebook-and-i/) [Steve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jones/) Browse all 194 Absorb quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was going to school, I just wanted to be like everybody else. I would pull at my hair to try and get it to lie straight. 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