---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I guess, in a way, I grew up mixed race…"
description: "\"I guess, in a way, I grew up mixed race: half white, half black. That question's always been on my mind: 'What are you? Are you this or that? Are you a..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/reggie-watts-4551_black_i-guess-in-a-way-i-grew-up-mixed-race-ha_56474.png"
---

#  I guess, in a way, I grew up mixed race: half white, half…

![“I guess, in a way, I grew up mixed race: half white, half black. That question's always been on my mind: 'What are you? Are you this or that? Are you a white dude or are you a black dude?' In a strange way, music and comedy is kind of the same thing. I'm both.They're just different modes of…” quote by Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/reggie-watts-4551_black_i-guess-in-a-way-i-grew-up-mixed-race-ha_56474.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/reggie-watts-4551_black_i-guess-in-a-way-i-grew-up-mixed-race-ha_56474.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/reggie-watts-4551_black_i-guess-in-a-way-i-grew-up-mixed-race-ha_56474.png)

> “I guess, in a way, I grew up mixed race: half white, half black. That question's always been on my mind: 'What are you? Are you this or that? Are you a white dude or are you a black dude?' In a strange way, music and comedy is kind of the same thing. I'm both.They're just different modes of expression.”

[Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

## 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 reflects on navigating a biracial identity, feeling split between two racial categories, and finds a parallel in how music and comedy both serve as expressive outlets for that duality.

**In simple terms:** Dual identity expressed through art forms.

Key Takeaway

Identity can be explored via creative mediums.

Themes

Identity Race Self‑perception Artistic expression Cultural hybridity

Mood

Reflective Introspective Hopeful

Type

Personal anecdote Cultural commentary

When to use this quote

- Personal introspection about racial labeling
- Choosing a creative outlet to process identity
- Discussing multicultural background in a public setting
- Using humor to bridge cultural gaps
- Explaining personal narrative in an interview

Key Concepts

Biracial experience Performance as identity negotiation Intersection of race and art

Practical Applications

- Therapeutic use of comedy for self‑acceptance
- Music as a vehicle for cultural synthesis

Questions to Reflect On

- How does creative expression shape your sense of self?
- Can humor help reconcile conflicting cultural identities?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mixed race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mixed-race/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/)

## Related quotes

> [Hosting 'SNL' was something I'd always wanted to do. The show allowed me to play to my strengths - mixing music with comedy seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-timberlake/hosting-snl-was-something-i-d-always-wanted-to-do-the-show-allowed-me/)

[Justin Timberlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-timberlake/)

> [The formula to my music is that it has to have comedy in it. The vulgarness cannot be digested without a little comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/the-formula-to-my-music-is-that-it-has-to-have-comedy-in-it-the/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [I think that art, and making music or comedy, is a way of positing yourself on the map and then trying to find other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-think-that-art-and-making-music-or-comedy-is-a-way-of-positing/)

[Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/)

> [When I go back to the stage, I want to be able to do everything. I want to be able to do music and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-murphy/when-i-go-back-to-the-stage-i-want-to-be-able-to-do-everything-i-want/)

[Eddie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-murphy/)

> [Comedy is delivered to people in the same form that music is being delivered: by YouTube. People are sharing music and comedy in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-green/comedy-is-delivered-to-people-in-the-same-form-that-music-is-being/)

[Tom Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-green/)

> [I was a rapper and did music before comedy. That was my first dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-redd/i-was-a-rapper-and-did-music-before-comedy-that-was-my-first-dream/)

[Chris Redd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-redd/)

> [Music and comedy are so linked. The rhythm of comedy is connected to the rhythm of music. They’re both about creating tension and knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/music-and-comedy-are-so-linked-the-rhythm-of-comedy-is-connected-to/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [I'd love to do something dark, something that has nothing to do with music or comedy. Anything, but I'm still learning what I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-d-love-to-do-something-dark-something-that-has-nothing-to-do-with/)

[Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/)

> [There's a sort of magic and music to comedy. Some words, some numbers even, are funnier than others. A Caramac bar, for instance, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walliams/there-s-a-sort-of-magic-and-music-to-comedy-some-words-some-numbers/)

[David Walliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walliams/)

> [I'll never be as funny as a regular Black dude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rife/i-ll-never-be-as-funny-as-a-regular-black-dude/)

[Matt Rife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rife/)

> [Ultimately, when I go back to the stage, I want to be able to do everything. I want to be able to do music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-murphy/ultimately-when-i-go-back-to-the-stage-i-want-to-be-able-to-do/)

[Eddie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-murphy/)

> [I used to want to be the black dude in 'The Last Dragon.' I wanted to be Ralph Tresvant from New Edition - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-cole/i-used-to-want-to-be-the-black-dude-in-the-last-dragon-i-wanted-to-be/)

[Deon Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deon-cole/)

> [The 'Muppets' were a very big part of my childhood, and 'Flight of the Conchords' definitely has elements of the 'Muppets' in it, specifically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-mckenzie/the-muppets-were-a-very-big-part-of-my-childhood-and-flight-of-the/)

[Bret McKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-mckenzie/)

> [I don't really know how music and comedy are similar. I try never to dissect it theoretically or academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/i-don-t-really-know-how-music-and-comedy-are-similar-i-try-never-to/)

[Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/)

> [I really wanted to, but I just didn't understand how people became comedians. I kind of thought it was something you were born into.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-really-wanted-to-but-i-just-didn-t-understand-how-people-became/)

[Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/)

## More by Reggie Watts

> [It's hard to move on when you can see too many good possibilities or any kind of possibility really. That's something that always kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/it-s-hard-to-move-on-when-you-can-see-too-many-good-possibilities-or/)

[Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

> [I want to be able to make a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-want-to-be-able-to-make-a-movie/)

[Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

> [If you have something you do that's unique, you just end up in situations. Your art can take you to places without you working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/if-you-have-something-you-do-that-s-unique-you-just-end-up-in/)

[Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

> [I like sincerely talking about market analysis and how marketing is ahead of design and design needs to catch up to fulfill the promise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-like-sincerely-talking-about-market-analysis-and-how-marketing-is/)

[Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

> [I love photographs. I love taking photographs. When I see something that's great, I want to capture that. You put it out there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-love-photographs-i-love-taking-photographs-when-i-see-something/)

[Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

> [Just remember, everything you are is...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/just-remember-everything-you-are-is/)

[Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

> [What I'm doing on stage now is just the tip of the iceberg.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/what-i-m-doing-on-stage-now-is-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg/)

[Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

> [When you look at a photo twenty years from now, if you look at a photo of a moment in your life, or some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/when-you-look-at-a-photo-twenty-years-from-now-if-you-look-at-a-photo/)

[Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

> [When I'm performing, I hope my research and my experience with those things I'm talking about rings true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/when-i-m-performing-i-hope-my-research-and-my-experience-with-those/)

[Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

> [I've been taking pictures of wherever I go, or on planes, whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-ve-been-taking-pictures-of-wherever-i-go-or-on-planes-whatever/)

[Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

> [The most important thing is to keep creating and following my inklings as they come into being and acting on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/the-most-important-thing-is-to-keep-creating-and-following-my/)

[Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

> [I like that feeling of discombobulation that comes in creating an absurd world that doesn't make sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-like-that-feeling-of-discombobulation-that-comes-in-creating-an/)

[Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

> [Sometimes airport security people recognize me. I'll go through the whole screening process and at the end they'll go, 'Hey, man, I really like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/sometimes-airport-security-people-recognize-me-i-ll-go-through-the/)

[Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

> [I had a job at a movie theater for like a year and a half and then a job at a health food store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-had-a-job-at-a-movie-theater-for-like-a-year-and-a-half-and-then-a/)

[Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

> [I'm hypoglycemic, so if I don't eat I start to get really blood-sugar crazy. I feel like I'm going insane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-m-hypoglycemic-so-if-i-don-t-eat-i-start-to-get-really-blood-sugar/)

[Reggie Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

[Explore all 109 Reggie Watts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/)

## 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. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/)

[Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/)

Browse all 11,655 Black quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I guess, in a way, I grew up mixed race: half white, half black. That question's always been on my mind: 'What are you? Are you this or that? Are you a white dude or are you a black dude?' In a strange way, music and comedy is kind of the same thing. I'm both.They're just different modes of expression.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Reggie Watts"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-guess-in-a-way-i-grew-up-mixed-race-half-white-half-black-that/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Black"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-guess-in-a-way-i-grew-up-mixed-race-half-white-half-black-that/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/reggie-watts-4551_black_i-guess-in-a-way-i-grew-up-mixed-race-ha_56474.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/reggie-watts-4551_black_i-guess-in-a-way-i-grew-up-mixed-race-ha_56474.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/reggie-watts-4551_black_i-guess-in-a-way-i-grew-up-mixed-race-ha_56474.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I guess, in a way, I grew up mixed race: half white, half black. That question's always been on my mind…” — Reggie Watts",
                "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": "Reggie Watts",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-watts/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I guess, in a way, I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-guess-in-a-way-i-grew-up-mixed-race-half-white-half-black-that/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-watts/i-guess-in-a-way-i-grew-up-mixed-race-half-white-half-black-that/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
