--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As white people in this society, we are…" description: "\"As white people in this society, we are socialized from the time that we're born to see ourselves as superior, to see white people and things associate..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/robin-diangelo-10183_bad_as-white-people-in-this-society-we-are-s_1762755.jpg" --- # As white people in this society, we are socialized from… ![“As white people in this society, we are socialized from the time that we're born to see ourselves as superior, to see white people and things associated white people as superior. At the same time, I'm encouraged to never admit to that. I'm taught that racism is very bad and immoral.” quote by Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/robin-diangelo-10183_bad_as-white-people-in-this-society-we-are-s_1762755.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/robin-diangelo-10183_bad_as-white-people-in-this-society-we-are-s_1762755.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/robin-diangelo-10183_bad_as-white-people-in-this-society-we-are-s_1762755.jpg) > “As white people in this society, we are socialized from the time that we're born to see ourselves as superior, to see white people and things associated white people as superior. At the same time, I'm encouraged to never admit to that. I'm taught that racism is very bad and immoral.” [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society conditions white people to view themselves as superior while denying racism, creating internal conflict and denial. **In simple terms:** White people are taught superiority and to hide it. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge hidden biases. Themes racism socialization identity denial Mood reflective critical motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education workshops - diversity training - personal reflection - policy reform - community dialogues Key Concepts white privilege cognitive dissonance systemic oppression Questions to Reflect On - How does hidden privilege affect your interactions? - What steps can you take to confront societal conditioning? A Different Perspective Denial can prevent honest self‑examination and change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [White people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-people/) ## Related quotes > [“When art sets racism in the past, no matter how good it is, it allows white people in the audience (and others) to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/when-art-sets-racism-in-the-past-no-matter-how-good-it-is-it-allows/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [I was taught to see racism only in individual acts of meanness, not in invisible systems conferring dominance on my group](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-mcintosh/i-was-taught-to-see-racism-only-in-individual-acts-of-meanness-not-in/) [Peggy McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-mcintosh/) > [As a white person, I realized I had been taught about racism as something that puts others at a disadvantage, but had been taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-mcintosh/as-a-white-person-i-realized-i-had-been-taught-about-racism-as/) [Peggy McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-mcintosh/) > [Violence and racism are bad. Whenever they occur they are to be condemned and we should not turn a blind eye to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/violence-and-racism-are-bad-whenever-they-occur-they-are-to-be/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [The overwhelming condemnation makes it clear we have made enormous progress in teaching everyone that racism is bad. Where we seem to have dropped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/the-overwhelming-condemnation-makes-it-clear-we-have-made-enormous/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [We were taught in school that there was a fundamental difference between black people and white people - that we were superior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-grobbelaar/we-were-taught-in-school-that-there-was-a-fundamental-difference/) [Bruce Grobbelaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-grobbelaar/) > [“If people were Superior to Animals, they'd take better care of the world”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hoff/if-people-were-superior-to-animals-they-d-take-better-care-of-the/) [Benjamin Hoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hoff/) > [Cultivated people should be superior to any consideration so sordid as a mercenary interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/cultivated-people-should-be-superior-to-any-consideration-so-sordid/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [I refuse to be friends with people that find themselves superior to others because of the opportunities that are given to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-refuse-to-be-friends-with-people-that-find-themselves-superior-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Look, I understand that for a lot of people, the US is superior to their country of residence in myriad ways, but I'm Australian.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-barry/look-i-understand-that-for-a-lot-of-people-the-us-is-superior-to/) [Max Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-barry/) > [People of superior refinement and of active disposition identify happiness with honour; for this is roughly speaking, the end of political life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/people-of-superior-refinement-and-of-active-disposition-identify/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [One of the things about my ministry is that I have never branded myself as being above the people or superior to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/one-of-the-things-about-my-ministry-is-that-i-have-never-branded/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [Some people are a little bit better than others, some people are great, some people are superior. It depends on the level of effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/some-people-are-a-little-bit-better-than-others-some-people-are-great/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [What is the highest of all goods achievable by action? ...both the general run of man and people of superior refinement say that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/what-is-the-highest-of-all-goods-achievable-by-action-both-the/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Better to be ordinary people in a superior country than to be president in a disreputable country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/better-to-be-ordinary-people-in-a-superior-country-than-to-be/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) ## More by Robin DiAngelo > [We whites who position ourselves as liberal often opt to protect what we perceive as our moral reputationsrather than recognize or change our participation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/we-whites-who-position-ourselves-as-liberal-often-opt-to-protect-what/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [Denying that race matters is irrational in the face of segregation and all of the other forms of obvious racial inequity in society... Maintaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/denying-that-race-matters-is-irrational-in-the-face-of-segregation/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [White people are very wily when it comes to race. We will do everything that we can to get out from under the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/white-people-are-very-wily-when-it-comes-to-race-we-will-do/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [This is what I have learned: Any white person living in the United States will develop opinions about race simply by swimming in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/this-is-what-i-have-learned-any-white-person-living-in-the-united/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [Most white people cannot answer the question, 'What does it mean to be white?' with any depth or complexity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/most-white-people-cannot-answer-the-question-what-does-it-mean-to-be/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [A fundamental but very challenging part of my work is moving white people from an individual understanding of racism - i.e. only some people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/a-fundamental-but-very-challenging-part-of-my-work-is-moving-white/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [For a lot of white people, just suggesting that being white has meaning will trigger a deep, defensive response. And that defensiveness serves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/for-a-lot-of-white-people-just-suggesting-that-being-white-has/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [Whites often respond defensively when linked to other whites as a group or 'accused' of collectively benefiting from racism, because as individuals, each white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/whites-often-respond-defensively-when-linked-to-other-whites-as-a/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [As a social concept, 'white' is profound in its meaning. It means people who either come from or appear to come from Europe, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/as-a-social-concept-white-is-profound-in-its-meaning-it-means-people/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [This is one of the most effective adaptations of racism over time - that we can think of racism as only something that individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/this-is-one-of-the-most-effective-adaptations-of-racism-over-time/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [Like a nontechnical user trying to understand a technical problem, our racial illiteracy limits our ability to have meaningful conversations about race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/like-a-nontechnical-user-trying-to-understand-a-technical-problem-our/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [Human beings can only make sense of the world through the lens they were socialized to make sense of it through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/human-beings-can-only-make-sense-of-the-world-through-the-lens-they/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [White people in North America live in a social environment that protects and insulates them from race-based stress. This insulated environment of racial protection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/white-people-in-north-america-live-in-a-social-environment-that/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [“It has taken me many years of intensive study and practice to be able to recognize and articulate how I am shaped by being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/it-has-taken-me-many-years-of-intensive-study-and-practice-to-be-able/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [White consciousness is deeply anti-black, and that's for progressives and conservatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/white-consciousness-is-deeply-anti-black-and-that-s-for-progressives/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) [Explore all 67 Robin DiAngelo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As white people in this society, we are socialized from the time that we're born to see ourselves as superior, to see white people and things associated white people as superior. At the same time, I'm encouraged to never admit to that. I'm taught that racism is very bad and immoral.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robin DiAngelo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/as-white-people-in-this-society-we-are-socialized-from-the-time-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/as-white-people-in-this-society-we-are-socialized-from-the-time-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/robin-diangelo-10183_bad_as-white-people-in-this-society-we-are-s_1762755.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/robin-diangelo-10183_bad_as-white-people-in-this-society-we-are-s_1762755.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fa/robin-diangelo-10183_bad_as-white-people-in-this-society-we-are-s_1762755.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As white people in this society, we are socialized from the time that we're born to see ourselves as…” — Robin DiAngelo", "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": "Robin DiAngelo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As white people in this society,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/as-white-people-in-this-society-we-are-socialized-from-the-time-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/as-white-people-in-this-society-we-are-socialized-from-the-time-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 } } ] } ```