--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have always observed that wherever you…" description: "\"I have always observed that wherever you find the negro, everything is going down around him, and wherever you find the white man, you see everything a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/robert-e-lee-2368_improving_i-have-always-observed-that-wherever-you_2778182.png" --- # I have always observed that wherever you find the negro… ![“I have always observed that wherever you find the negro, everything is going down around him, and wherever you find the white man, you see everything around him improving.” quote by Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/robert-e-lee-2368_improving_i-have-always-observed-that-wherever-you_2778182.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/robert-e-lee-2368_improving_i-have-always-observed-that-wherever-you_2778182.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/robert-e-lee-2368_improving_i-have-always-observed-that-wherever-you_2778182.png) > “I have always observed that wherever you find the negro, everything is going down around him, and wherever you find the white man, you see everything around him improving.” [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lee expresses a racist view linking race to societal decline or improvement. **In simple terms:** Racist claim linking race to societal outcomes. Key Takeaway Recognize and reject racist stereotypes. Themes racism history social commentary Mood critical historical Type social political When to use this quote - education - historical analysis - social justice work Key Concepts white supremacy colonialism Questions to Reflect On - How do such statements affect historical narratives? - What can be done to counteract racist ideologies? A Different Perspective Perpetuates harmful stereotypes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Going White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-white-1315490/) [Improving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improving/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Man Improving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-improving-3290873/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Negro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negro/) [Negro Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negro-going-2500349/) [Observed Negro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observed-negro-3290872/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-man/) ## Related quotes > [True human progress, that which can be linked to evolution, and which prolongs it, can only consist in perfecting and ameliorating man himself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-carl-sagan/true-human-progress-that-which-can-be-linked-to-evolution-and-which/) [Dr Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-carl-sagan/) > [Soon now, as the Negro awakens a little more and sees the vise that he's in, sees the bag that he's in, sees the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/soon-now-as-the-negro-awakens-a-little-more-and-sees-the-vise-that-he/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I realized that for fantasy and science fiction, especially from my youth, white was the default. Luke Skywalker was in the lead, or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-realized-that-for-fantasy-and-science-fiction-especially-from-my/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [“Great, I’m going to be white trash at my own wedding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-alexander/great-i-m-going-to-be-white-trash-at-my-own-wedding/) [Monica Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-alexander/) > [Any comedic roles that I've gone out for usually end up going to a white woman or a gay man instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/any-comedic-roles-that-i-ve-gone-out-for-usually-end-up-going-to-a/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [I adore my black skin and my kinky hair. The Negro hair is more educated than the white man's hair. Because with Negro hair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolina-maria-de-jesus/i-adore-my-black-skin-and-my-kinky-hair-the-negro-hair-is-more/) [Carolina Maria de Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolina-maria-de-jesus/) > [I talked and talked of everything I know about the white man's inhuman treatment of the Negro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-parks/i-talked-and-talked-of-everything-i-know-about-the-white-man-s/) [Rosa Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-parks/) > [The Negro was taught to speak the white man's tongue, worship the white God, and accept the white man as his superior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-negro-was-taught-to-speak-the-white-man-s-tongue-worship-the/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [When the Negro finds the courage to be free, he faces dogs and guns and clubs and fire hoses totally unafraid, and the white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/when-the-negro-finds-the-courage-to-be-free-he-faces-dogs-and-guns/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The most ordinary Negro is a distinct gentleman, but it takes extraordinary training and opportunity to make the average white man anything but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/the-most-ordinary-negro-is-a-distinct-gentleman-but-it-takes/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [If a white man falls off a chair drunk, it's just a drunk. If a Negro does, it's the whole damn Negro race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/if-a-white-man-falls-off-a-chair-drunk-it-s-just-a-drunk-if-a-negro/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [The first who attracts the eye, the first in enlightenment, in power and in happiness, is the white man, the European, man par excellence;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/the-first-who-attracts-the-eye-the-first-in-enlightenment-in-power/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [The Negro fought and bled and died in every war the white man waged, and he still won't give you justice. You nursed his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/the-negro-fought-and-bled-and-died-in-every-war-the-white-man-waged/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Now, suppose a Negro does something really magnificent, and I glory, not in the benefit to mankind, but in the fact that the doer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/now-suppose-a-negro-does-something-really-magnificent-and-i-glory-not/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [Any negro who occupies a position that was given to him by the white man, if you analyze his function, his function never enables…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/any-negro-who-occupies-a-position-that-was-given-to-him-by-the-white/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## More by Robert E. Lee > [Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/live-in-the-world-you-inhabit-look-upon-things-as-they-are-take-them/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Alabama soldiers, all I ask of you is to keep up with the Texans!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/alabama-soldiers-all-i-ask-of-you-is-to-keep-up-with-the-texans/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [You must study to be frank with the world: frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/you-must-study-to-be-frank-with-the-world-frankness-is-the-child-of/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [...the framers of our Constitution never exhausted so much labor, wisdom and forbearance in its formation if it was intended to be broken up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/the-framers-of-our-constitution-never-exhausted-so-much-labor-wisdom/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [My trust is in the mercy and wisdom of a kind Providence, who ordereth all things for our good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/my-trust-is-in-the-mercy-and-wisdom-of-a-kind-providence-who-ordereth/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [All military history records the triumphs of discipline and courage far more frequently than numbers and resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/all-military-history-records-the-triumphs-of-discipline-and-courage/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/a-true-man-of-honor-feels-humbled-himself-when-he-cannot-help/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [I will attack no matter what and win the war!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/i-will-attack-no-matter-what-and-win-the-war/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [A man may manifest and communicate his joy, but he should conceal and smother his grief as much as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/a-man-may-manifest-and-communicate-his-joy-but-he-should-conceal-and/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [We poor sinners need to come back from our wanderings to seek pardon through the all-sufficient merits of our Redeemer. And we need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/we-poor-sinners-need-to-come-back-from-our-wanderings-to-seek-pardon/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Life processes take place in an aqueous medium. All organisms are composed mostly of water, whether they dwell in the oceans, lakes, and rivers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/life-processes-take-place-in-an-aqueous-medium-all-organisms-are/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [We cannot afford to be idle, and though weaker than our opponents in men and military equipments, must endeavor to harass, if we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/we-cannot-afford-to-be-idle-and-though-weaker-than-our-opponents-in/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [We must forgive our enemies. I can truly say that not a day has passed since the war began that I have not prayed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/we-must-forgive-our-enemies-i-can-truly-say-that-not-a-day-has-passed/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Lee tells his troops. After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/lee-tells-his-troops-after-four-years-of-arduous-service-marked-by/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/obedience-to-lawful-authority-is-the-foundation-of-manly-character/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) [Explore all 170 Robert E. Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) ## More Improving quotes > [The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-average-condition-of-the-people-improving-or-deteriorating/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Forgetting your Self is the greatest injury; all the calamities flow from it. Take care of the most important, the lesser will take care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/forgetting-your-self-is-the-greatest-injury-all-the-calamities-flow/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [... professing myself moreover convinced that the general's unjust interference, so far from being really injurious to their felicity, was perhaps rather conducive to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/professing-myself-moreover-convinced-that-the-general-s-unjust/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [I do look upon the secretary of education's primary responsibility as the quality of education that - and improving the education that every child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-education-s-primary-responsibility-as/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [As president, improving cyber security will be an immediate and top priority for my administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/as-president-improving-cyber-security-will-be-an-immediate-and-top/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Man cannot really improve himself without improving others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/man-cannot-really-improve-himself-without-improving-others/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [You always want to be perfect out there. But it's about really improving all parts of the game and trying to be more efficient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/you-always-want-to-be-perfect-out-there-but-it-s-about-really/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) > [The smart way to improve broadband is not to junk the existing network but to make the most of it. It’s to let a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/the-smart-way-to-improve-broadband-is-not-to-junk-the-existing/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [“Success can’t be achieved without personal development and constantly improving yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/success-can-t-be-achieved-without-personal-development-and-constantly/) [Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/) > [Change isn't always bad; we should always be learning and improving. 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It's not like you get to a point, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-schemel/you-ve-really-got-to-keep-on-improving-and-improving-and-improving-it/) [Patty Schemel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-schemel/) [Browse all 784 Improving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have always observed that wherever you find the negro, everything is going down around him, and wherever you find the white man, you see everything around him improving.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert E. 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