---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wherever I go, people ask: 'What is she?…"
description: "\"Wherever I go, people ask: 'What is she? What is she?' There has always been an agenda - they're excluding me or including me in something with that qu..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/roma-maffia-106336_agenda_wherever-i-go-people-ask-what-is-she-wha_1159763.jpg"
---

#  Wherever I go, people ask: 'What is she? What is she?'…

![“Wherever I go, people ask: 'What is she? What is she?' There has always been an agenda - they're excluding me or including me in something with that question. It is the first thing agents in Los Angeles ask me. And then I'd hear: 'You're not black enough, you're too black, you're Italian - no…” quote by Roma Maffia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/roma-maffia-106336_agenda_wherever-i-go-people-ask-what-is-she-wha_1159763.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/roma-maffia-106336_agenda_wherever-i-go-people-ask-what-is-she-wha_1159763.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/roma-maffia-106336_agenda_wherever-i-go-people-ask-what-is-she-wha_1159763.jpg)

> “Wherever I go, people ask: 'What is she? What is she?' There has always been an agenda - they're excluding me or including me in something with that question. It is the first thing agents in Los Angeles ask me. And then I'd hear: 'You're not black enough, you're too black, you're Italian - no, you're Spanish.'”

Roma Maffia

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Identity is questioned and stereotyped, leading to exclusion or forced classification.

**In simple terms:** Identity faces stereotyping.

Key Takeaway

Challenge and redefine imposed labels.

Themes

Identity Stereotyping Exclusion Race Cultural perception

Mood

frustrated defiant thoughtful

Type

Agenda:0 Agents:0 Always:0 Angeles:0 Ask:0 Been:0 Black:0 Enough:0 First:0 First thing:0 Go:0 Hear:0 Including:0 Italian:0 Los:0 Los angeles:0 Me:0 People:0 Question:0 She:0 Something:0 Spanish:0 The first thing:0 Then:0 Thing:0 Too:0 Wherever:0 You:0 People Ask:0 Question Thing:0 Black Italian:0 Agents Los:0

When to use this quote

- interview
- social commentary
- personal narrative

Key Concepts

Social bias Self‑definition Intersectionality

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you navigate identity stereotypes?
- What strategies resist forced classification?

A Different Perspective

May lack broader context.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Italian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/italian/) [Los angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/los-angeles/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Spanish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spanish/)

## Related quotes

> [“I’m officially giving myself permission to ask; What are Mr. Garcia’s intentions? Maybe I’m late to the game on this question. The thing is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-benzehabe/i-m-officially-giving-myself-permission-to-ask-what-are-mr-garcia-s/)

Michael Benzehabe

> [If one really knew what one was doing, why do it? It seems to me if you had the answer why ask the question?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-friedlander/if-one-really-knew-what-one-was-doing-why-do-it-it-seems-to-me-if-you/)

[Lee Friedlander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-friedlander/)

> [When I started writing, the first thing that came out was in English. I liked a few French things, but they were very overwhelming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mars/when-i-started-writing-the-first-thing-that-came-out-was-in-english-i/)

[Thomas Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mars/)

> [I had just got back from skiing, and I was just hanging out, browsing the Internet, and I found some article that was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-goepper/i-had-just-got-back-from-skiing-and-i-was-just-hanging-out-browsing/)

[Nick Goepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-goepper/)

> [The first thing one notices about Jill Abramson is her short stature. The second is her intensity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/the-first-thing-one-notices-about-jill-abramson-is-her-short-stature/)

[Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/)

> [The first thing you have to understand is that I was not desperate to be a writer. I was never a closet writer filing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/the-first-thing-you-have-to-understand-is-that-i-was-not-desperate-to/)

[Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/)

> [When I was growing up in Chicago, my family and I used to go to a local chain, Hackney's, for burgers and their French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/when-i-was-growing-up-in-chicago-my-family-and-i-used-to-go-to-a/)

[Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/)

> [The first thing I do after work is take off my TV makeup with a gentle cleanser. I also try to exfoliate twice a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-morales/the-first-thing-i-do-after-work-is-take-off-my-tv-makeup-with-a/)

[Natalie Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-morales/)

> [Most of the roles that I go for are Americans, so the first thing I had to do was pin down the American accent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-jackson/most-of-the-roles-that-i-go-for-are-americans-so-the-first-thing-i/)

[Sasha Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-jackson/)

> [The first thing, when I read the script, is that I need to care about what happens and feel compelled by the story and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/the-first-thing-when-i-read-the-script-is-that-i-need-to-care-about/)

[Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/)

> [The first thing you have to get used to in any kind of acting is the ability to make a fool of yourself. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hurt/the-first-thing-you-have-to-get-used-to-in-any-kind-of-acting-is-the/)

[John Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hurt/)

> [I think that the first thing is you should have a strategic asset allocation mix that assumes that you don't know what the future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/i-think-that-the-first-thing-is-you-should-have-a-strategic-asset/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

> [I grew up in Harlem. My grandmother was one of the best cooks around, but the first thing she did on Sunday mornings when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carmona/i-grew-up-in-harlem-my-grandmother-was-one-of-the-best-cooks-around/)

[Richard Carmona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carmona/)

> [The first thing I hear when I wake up is the sea, which is so close to our house that its reflections from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-brown/the-first-thing-i-hear-when-i-wake-up-is-the-sea-which-is-so-close-to/)

[Craig Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-brown/)

> [Oh, I'm a great believer in the power of the pause. Radio is a bit brasher now. My style was slower. I just used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/oh-i-m-a-great-believer-in-the-power-of-the-pause-radio-is-a-bit/)

[Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/)

## More by Roma Maffia

> [I tell people, 'I'm American. I act.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roma-maffia/i-tell-people-i-m-american-i-act/)

Roma Maffia

Explore all 2 Roma Maffia quotes

## More Agenda quotes

> [It's when someone has an agenda of their own for the record that it doesn't work for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/it-s-when-someone-has-an-agenda-of-their-own-for-the-record-that-it/)

[Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/)

> [Realizing that they can't get their agenda across: against religious liberty, against a culture of life, they can't get those issues across through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-parsley/realizing-that-they-can-t-get-their-agenda-across-against-religious/)

[Rod Parsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-parsley/)

> [Hypocrisy is a detriment to progress. There's always a hidden agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/hypocrisy-is-a-detriment-to-progress-there-s-always-a-hidden-agenda/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [I didn't want to go marching down the street with camera crews. Oy. To get married? Really? It seems like you have an agenda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-didn-t-want-to-go-marching-down-the-street-with-camera-crews-oy-to/)

[Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/)

> [I'm not afraid of having an agenda. I do have an agenda. It's a positive agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-m-not-afraid-of-having-an-agenda-i-do-have-an-agenda-it-s-a/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [I think in some ways we have allowed other people to set the agenda. Other people to define who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-scott/i-think-in-some-ways-we-have-allowed-other-people-to-set-the-agenda/)

[Lee Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-scott/)

> [The doughy-faced woman has been forced to sit on the sidelines of culture for too long, and it's now time for us to stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/the-doughy-faced-woman-has-been-forced-to-sit-on-the-sidelines-of/)

[Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/)

> [The face of time is our agenda. our agenda is a task,task of time. to prepare is to task our agenda. preparing is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-face-of-time-is-our-agenda-our-agenda-is-a-task-task-of-time-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I love the energy of an independent film set. No one is there for the money. Everyone is there 'cause they really want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mamie-gummer/i-love-the-energy-of-an-independent-film-set-no-one-is-there-for-the/)

[Mamie Gummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mamie-gummer/)

> [Healthcare reform is a paradigmatic case. It is self-evidently necessary and inevitable and has been on the agenda for 35 years, and the political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/healthcare-reform-is-a-paradigmatic-case-it-is-self-evidently/)

[Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/)

> [I've said in the primary race repeatedly that a Labour Party that I lead would be a true red Labour Party, be very clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cunliffe/i-ve-said-in-the-primary-race-repeatedly-that-a-labour-party-that-i/)

[David Cunliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cunliffe/)

> [I'm really looking for an agenda that looks at safety for our communities beyond policing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/i-m-really-looking-for-an-agenda-that-looks-at-safety-for-our/)

[Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/)

> [My district really wanted me... to take a hard stance against a Donald Trump agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-gomez/my-district-really-wanted-me-to-take-a-hard-stance-against-a-donald/)

[Jimmy Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-gomez/)

> [Commercial theater, in its agenda to appeal to everybody, is often at the expense of the unique vision of the artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/commercial-theater-in-its-agenda-to-appeal-to-everybody-is-often-at/)

[George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/)

> [Others have said it before me. If you don't have a seat at the table, you're probably on the menu. And so it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/others-have-said-it-before-me-if-you-don-t-have-a-seat-at-the-table/)

[Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/)

Browse all 296 Agenda quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Wherever I go, people ask: 'What is she? What is she?' There has always been an agenda - they're excluding me or including me in something with that question. It is the first thing agents in Los Angeles ask me. And then I'd hear: 'You're not black enough, you're too black, you're Italian - no, you're Spanish.'",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Roma Maffia"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roma-maffia/wherever-i-go-people-ask-what-is-she-what-is-she-there-has-always/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Agenda"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roma-maffia/wherever-i-go-people-ask-what-is-she-what-is-she-there-has-always/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/roma-maffia-106336_agenda_wherever-i-go-people-ask-what-is-she-wha_1159763.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/roma-maffia-106336_agenda_wherever-i-go-people-ask-what-is-she-wha_1159763.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c69/roma-maffia-106336_agenda_wherever-i-go-people-ask-what-is-she-wha_1159763.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Wherever I go, people ask: 'What is she? What is she?' There has always been an agenda - they're excluding…” — Roma Maffia",
                "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": "Roma Maffia",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roma-maffia/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Wherever I go, people ask: 'What...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roma-maffia/wherever-i-go-people-ask-what-is-she-what-is-she-there-has-always/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roma-maffia/wherever-i-go-people-ask-what-is-she-what-is-she-there-has-always/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
