--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever that thing is that white people…" description: "\"Whatever that thing is that white people like in blacks, I don't have it. Maybe it's my arrogance or my self-assurance or the way I carry myself, but w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/paul-mooney-9583_arrogance_whatever-that-thing-is-that-white-people_1376509.jpg" --- # Whatever that thing is that white people like in blacks, I… ![“Whatever that thing is that white people like in blacks, I don't have it. Maybe it's my arrogance or my self-assurance or the way I carry myself, but whatever it is, I don't have it.” quote by Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/paul-mooney-9583_arrogance_whatever-that-thing-is-that-white-people_1376509.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/paul-mooney-9583_arrogance_whatever-that-thing-is-that-white-people_1376509.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/paul-mooney-9583_arrogance_whatever-that-thing-is-that-white-people_1376509.jpg) > “Whatever that thing is that white people like in blacks, I don't have it. Maybe it's my arrogance or my self-assurance or the way I carry myself, but whatever it is, I don't have it.” [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) ## 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 rejects a stereotypical preference, emphasizing personal confidence and self‑presentation over racial appeal. **In simple terms:** Confidence, not race, defines appeal. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑assurance. Themes identity confidence race Mood confident assertive Type comedic social commentary When to use this quote - public speaking - dating - career advancement - social interactions Key Concepts self‑esteem social perception Questions to Reflect On - How does confidence affect perception? - Can self‑assurance overcome stereotypes? A Different Perspective It may downplay systemic bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arrogance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogance/) [Arrogance Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogance-self-959771/) [Assurance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assurance/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Blacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blacks/) [Carry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carry/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Like Blacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-blacks-4755694/) [Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe/) [Maybe Arrogance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe-arrogance-4755693/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self assurance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-assurance/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Whatever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whatever/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-people/) ## Related quotes > [How can love survive in such a graceless age? The trust and self assurance that lead to happiness, they're the very things we kill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-henley/how-can-love-survive-in-such-a-graceless-age-the-trust-and-self/) [Don Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-henley/) > [The reputation of a Don Juan gives to a man the most dangerous power. Wise virgins resist it, but foolish virgins frequently yield to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/the-reputation-of-a-don-juan-gives-to-a-man-the-most-dangerous-power/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [The measure of self-assurance is how deeply and sincerely interested you are in others; the measure of insecurity is how much you try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-goulston/the-measure-of-self-assurance-is-how-deeply-and-sincerely-interested/) [Mark Goulston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-goulston/) > [A person with ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/a-person-with-ubuntu-is-open-and-available-to-others-affirming-of/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [No its you," she said. How far away her voice sounded, as though it had traveled to London already, ahead of her. "Your ducal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-chase/no-its-you-she-said-how-far-away-her-voice-sounded-as-though-it-had/) [Loretta Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-chase/) > [Self-assurance is two-thirds of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/self-assurance-is-two-thirds-of-success/) [Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/proverb/) > [We can enjoy a self-assurance that doesn't depend on the state of things outside ourselves, be it downturns or booms or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/we-can-enjoy-a-self-assurance-that-doesn-t-depend-on-the-state-of/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Yves Saint Laurent liked women to put their hands in their pockets, or to hold cigarettes, and act a bit like boys. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/yves-saint-laurent-liked-women-to-put-their-hands-in-their-pockets-or/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [Confidence and empowerment are cousins in my opinion. Empowerment comes from within and typically it's stemmed and fostered by self-assurance. To feel empowered is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-jo-martin/confidence-and-empowerment-are-cousins-in-my-opinion-empowerment/) [Amy Jo Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-jo-martin/) > [Clothes have always had a wonderful influence on my physical well-being as well as my self-assurance. All I have to do to make me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolphe-menjou/clothes-have-always-had-a-wonderful-influence-on-my-physical-well/) [Adolphe Menjou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolphe-menjou/) > [Quite often I have been faced with people who were praised and admired for their talents and their achievements... According to prevailing attitudes, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/quite-often-i-have-been-faced-with-people-who-were-praised-and/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Be courteous to all, but personal with number of, and allow those couple be perfectly attempted ahead of you provide them with your self-assurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/be-courteous-to-all-but-personal-with-number-of-and-allow-those/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [I should have wished to possess the intellectual equilibrium that characterizes you and permits you to achieve without fail the desired end... Chance has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/i-should-have-wished-to-possess-the-intellectual-equilibrium-that/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [“Self-assurance reassures others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-willis/self-assurance-reassures-others/) [Garry Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-willis/) > [I don't feel myself that I Know it all, but I have enough conceit to be successful. That observation was made by a businessman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/i-don-t-feel-myself-that-i-know-it-all-but-i-have-enough-conceit-to/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) ## More by Paul Mooney > [I was born a comic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/i-was-born-a-comic/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [I got my sense of humor from my grandmother. You know, my grandmother was very funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/i-got-my-sense-of-humor-from-my-grandmother-you-know-my-grandmother/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [People don't want to hear the truth; they never do. They wanna live in some kind of fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/people-don-t-want-to-hear-the-truth-they-never-do-they-wanna-live-in/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [If you have money and you have fame, but you don't have any confidence in your blackness, then it's all for nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/if-you-have-money-and-you-have-fame-but-you-don-t-have-any-confidence/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [I have nothing to do with racism in America; it was here when I got here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/i-have-nothing-to-do-with-racism-in-america-it-was-here-when-i-got/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [We have a lot of black Anglo-Saxons. Their skin is black, but their brain is white. When I get real mad at them, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/we-have-a-lot-of-black-anglo-saxons-their-skin-is-black-but-their/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [When you know who you are, you know who you are. That's the real dangerous thing in Hollywood, because they all want to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/when-you-know-who-you-are-you-know-who-you-are-that-s-the-real/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [I read a lot of history. The passive Jews in Germany didn't survive. The smart ones got out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/i-read-a-lot-of-history-the-passive-jews-in-germany-didn-t-survive/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [When they were making black films in the '60s and the '70s, everyone knew their place, if you get my drift. You understand? Everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/when-they-were-making-black-films-in-the-60s-and-the-70s-everyone/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [I'm like the Davy Crockett of comedy... after Davy Crockett opened up the West and helped everybody... they didn't need him anymore. I freed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/i-m-like-the-davy-crockett-of-comedy-after-davy-crockett-opened-up/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [I like when people are trapped in the joke, when there's no escape. I like to lead people down the wrong path and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/i-like-when-people-are-trapped-in-the-joke-when-there-s-no-escape-i/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [America has a rap sheet. You can't police the world and tell the world how to act when you're just as bad yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/america-has-a-rap-sheet-you-can-t-police-the-world-and-tell-the-world/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [You white folks see UFOs in your dreams. You don't hear about Martians in Harlem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/you-white-folks-see-ufos-in-your-dreams-you-don-t-hear-about-martians/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [I've never seen anyone more messed up over success than Richard Pryor. For him, it's a constant battle between success in the white world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/i-ve-never-seen-anyone-more-messed-up-over-success-than-richard-pryor/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [I can't change the past, but one person can change the future - anything can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/i-can-t-change-the-past-but-one-person-can-change-the-future-anything/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) [Explore all 71 Paul Mooney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) ## More Arrogance quotes > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [wishes for sons by Lucille Clifton i wish them cramps. i wish them a strange town and the last tampon. I wish them no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/wishes-for-sons-by-lucille-clifton-i-wish-them-cramps-i-wish-them-a/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/) [Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/) > [What you see of me on TV and all of that, that is me - that's truly how I feel. I'm just multiplying it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-corbin/what-you-see-of-me-on-tv-and-all-of-that-that-is-me-that-s-truly-how/) [Baron Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-corbin/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Never mistake someones quietness for their arrogance as you can surely miss out on an awsome personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-mistake-someones-quietness-for-their-arrogance-as-you-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/most-of-us-think-of-pride-as-self-centeredness-conceit-boastfulness/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“I was consumed by a selfishness and arrogance that I didn't dare let go of until I found a new persona to hide behind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-koomson/i-was-consumed-by-a-selfishness-and-arrogance-that-i-didn-t-dare-let/) [Dorothy Koomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-koomson/) > [Arrogance is the outgrowth of prosperity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/arrogance-is-the-outgrowth-of-prosperity/) [Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/) > [Timing and arrogance are decisive factors in the successful use of talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-mannes/timing-and-arrogance-are-decisive-factors-in-the-successful-use-of/) [Marya Mannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-mannes/) > [Some say work smarter, not harder, but the wisest are both. Whether you're more of a hard worker or a smart worker, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-tatem/some-say-work-smarter-not-harder-but-the-wisest-are-both-whether-you/) [Colby Tatem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-tatem/) > [Closed some doors, not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because they no longer lead somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenz-jeffrey/closed-some-doors-not-because-of-pride-incapacity-or-arrogance-but/) [Frenz Jeffrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frenz-jeffrey/) > [My success isn't a result of arrogance - it's a result of belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/my-success-isn-t-a-result-of-arrogance-it-s-a-result-of-belief/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [“...a great man who is vicious will only be a great doer of evil, and a rich man who is not liberal will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cervantes/a-great-man-who-is-vicious-will-only-be-a-great-doer-of-evil-and-a/) [Miguel Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cervantes/) > [An increasing number of people are growing uncomfortable with the gulf between the world's rich and the poor. Ostentatiously splashing your money around simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalle-lasn/an-increasing-number-of-people-are-growing-uncomfortable-with-the/) [Kalle Lasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalle-lasn/) [Browse all 1,418 Arrogance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whatever that thing is that white people like in blacks, I don't have it. Maybe it's my arrogance or my self-assurance or the way I carry myself, but whatever it is, I don't have it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Mooney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/whatever-that-thing-is-that-white-people-like-in-blacks-i-don-t-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arrogance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/whatever-that-thing-is-that-white-people-like-in-blacks-i-don-t-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/paul-mooney-9583_arrogance_whatever-that-thing-is-that-white-people_1376509.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/paul-mooney-9583_arrogance_whatever-that-thing-is-that-white-people_1376509.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/paul-mooney-9583_arrogance_whatever-that-thing-is-that-white-people_1376509.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whatever that thing is that white people like in blacks, I don't have it. Maybe it's my arrogance or my…” — Paul Mooney", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paul Mooney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Whatever that thing is that white...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/whatever-that-thing-is-that-white-people-like-in-blacks-i-don-t-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/whatever-that-thing-is-that-white-people-like-in-blacks-i-don-t-have/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```