--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember that my mother used to take me…" description: "\"I remember that my mother used to take me to see ballets, especially if there were black people in them.\" — Ntozake Shange" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/ntozake-shange-11891_black_i-remember-that-my-mother-used-to-take-m_2187145.png" --- # I remember that my mother used to take me to see ballets… ![“I remember that my mother used to take me to see ballets, especially if there were black people in them.” quote by Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/ntozake-shange-11891_black_i-remember-that-my-mother-used-to-take-m_2187145.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/ntozake-shange-11891_black_i-remember-that-my-mother-used-to-take-m_2187145.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/701/ntozake-shange-11891_black_i-remember-that-my-mother-used-to-take-m_2187145.png) > “I remember that my mother used to take me to see ballets, especially if there were black people in them.” [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sharing art with children, especially diverse performances, nurtures cultural awareness. **In simple terms:** Art exposure builds cultural awareness. Key Takeaway Introduce diverse art early. Themes culture family diversity Mood nostalgic proud Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - school curricula - family outings - community events Key Concepts representation art education identity Questions to Reflect On - What impact did those ballets have? - How do you continue cultural exposure? A Different Perspective May overlook other influences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-people/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I'm trying to do things I have never done. Like I recently went to 3 different ballets. And I loved trying to learn how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/i-m-trying-to-do-things-i-have-never-done-like-i-recently-went-to-3/) [Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/) > [I've relaxed my feelings about other companies performing my works. I have never in principle been against my ballets being danced by other companies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/i-ve-relaxed-my-feelings-about-other-companies-performing-my-works-i/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [Dance in the most perishable of the arts. Ballets are forgotten, ballerinas retire, choreographers die--and what remains of that glorious production which so excited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-anderson/dance-in-the-most-perishable-of-the-arts-ballets-are-forgotten/) [Jack Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-anderson/) > [I have been very lucky to work in so many new ballets, but that is what a dancer's work is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-have-been-very-lucky-to-work-in-so-many-new-ballets-but-that-is/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [Sometimes I feel as if sections of my ballets were done for me - that I didnt do them myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-tudor/sometimes-i-feel-as-if-sections-of-my-ballets-were-done-for-me-that-i/) [Antony Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-tudor/) > [I was not influenced by concerts as a child, but I was very strongly influenced by the ballets I saw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-neuwirth/i-was-not-influenced-by-concerts-as-a-child-but-i-was-very-strongly/) [Bebe Neuwirth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-neuwirth/) > [Dancing and ballets would undoubtedly take on a new lease on life, if the customs established by a spirit of fear and jealousy did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-georges-noverre/dancing-and-ballets-would-undoubtedly-take-on-a-new-lease-on-life-if/) [Jean-Georges Noverre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-georges-noverre/) > [As long as my ballets are danced, I will live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/as-long-as-my-ballets-are-danced-i-will-live/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [In the world of classical ballet there are only a handful of story ballets, so getting a new one is cause for excitement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kain/in-the-world-of-classical-ballet-there-are-only-a-handful-of-story/) [Karen Kain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kain/) > [I love all of the ballets that have a really strong story in them where I get to play a character. I don't enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-hayward/i-love-all-of-the-ballets-that-have-a-really-strong-story-in-them/) [Francesca Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-hayward/) > [I keep starting supergroups, writing ballets and things like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhiannon-giddens/i-keep-starting-supergroups-writing-ballets-and-things-like-that/) [Rhiannon Giddens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhiannon-giddens/) > [There are some ballets you can do for a long time. With others, you have to know when to stop. Some are very destructive.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-guillem/there-are-some-ballets-you-can-do-for-a-long-time-with-others-you/) [Sylvie Guillem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-guillem/) > [I've always thought of the process of creating ballets as being this kind of team effort. It's not like being a painter, where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-peck/i-ve-always-thought-of-the-process-of-creating-ballets-as-being-this/) [Justin Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-peck/) > [All Ballets' fundamental steps are derived from the folk dances of Western Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninette-de-valois/all-ballets-fundamental-steps-are-derived-from-the-folk-dances-of/) [Ninette de Valois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninette-de-valois/) > [George Balanchine is my role model because his work is so varied. You can see two ballets of his and not even realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-peck/george-balanchine-is-my-role-model-because-his-work-is-so-varied-you/) [Justin Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-peck/) ## More by Ntozake Shange > [My characters don't talk necessarily in a normal American way of talking. They talk a little different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/my-characters-don-t-talk-necessarily-in-a-normal-american-way-of/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [It still amazes and fascinates me that women of color have kept my work alive for these many generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/it-still-amazes-and-fascinates-me-that-women-of-color-have-kept-my/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [I write for young girls of color, for girls who don't even exist yet, so that there is something there for them when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/i-write-for-young-girls-of-color-for-girls-who-don-t-even-exist-yet/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [My family moved around a lot, so I don't have any friends that I had all my life, but I did have annual trips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/my-family-moved-around-a-lot-so-i-don-t-have-any-friends-that-i-had/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [Creation is everything you do. Make something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/creation-is-everything-you-do-make-something/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [Where there is a woman there is magic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/where-there-is-a-woman-there-is-magic/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [i usedta live in the world really be in the world free & sweet talkin good mornin & thank-you & nice day uh huh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/i-usedta-live-in-the-world-really-be-in-the-world-free-sweet-talkin/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [The slaves who were ourselves had known terror intimately, confused sunrise with pain, & accepted indifference as kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/the-slaves-who-were-ourselves-had-known-terror-intimately-confused/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [White people use their literature to maintain culture. That's why you find references to Milton and Spencer and Shakespeare and Dostoyevsky in contemporary novels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/white-people-use-their-literature-to-maintain-culture-that-s-why-you/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [Multiculturalism isn't about culture, it's about power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/multiculturalism-isn-t-about-culture-it-s-about-power/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [Art gives us the opportunity to have clarity as well as hope that we might be able to survive a situation, or hope that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/art-gives-us-the-opportunity-to-have-clarity-as-well-as-hope-that-we/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [I think art is a healing force, and if we give in to the joy that can be found in art, then we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/i-think-art-is-a-healing-force-and-if-we-give-in-to-the-joy-that-can/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [Being alive and being a woman is all I got, but being colored is a metaphysical dilemma I haven't conquered yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/being-alive-and-being-a-woman-is-all-i-got-but-being-colored-is-a/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [When I die, I will no be guilty of having left a generation of girls behind thinking that anyone can tend to their emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/when-i-die-i-will-no-be-guilty-of-having-left-a-generation-of-girls/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) > [I had - there were three strokes, and I lost my ability to read and write and speak, and it really put me by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ntozake-shange/i-had-there-were-three-strokes-and-i-lost-my-ability-to-read-and/) [Ntozake Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) [Explore all 57 Ntozake Shange quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ntozake-shange/) ## More Black quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [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/) > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. 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