--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know who I would be if I weren't…" description: "\"I don't know who I would be if I weren't this child from Harlem, this woman from Harlem. It's in me so deep.\" — Ruby Dee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/ruby-dee-7465_children_i-don-t-know-who-i-would-be-if-i-weren-t_2040753.png" --- # I don't know who I would be if I weren't this child from… ![“I don't know who I would be if I weren't this child from Harlem, this woman from Harlem. It's in me so deep.” quote by Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/ruby-dee-7465_children_i-don-t-know-who-i-would-be-if-i-weren-t_2040753.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/ruby-dee-7465_children_i-don-t-know-who-i-would-be-if-i-weren-t_2040753.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/ruby-dee-7465_children_i-don-t-know-who-i-would-be-if-i-weren-t_2040753.png) > “I don't know who I would be if I weren't this child from Harlem, this woman from Harlem. It's in me so deep.” [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Her identity is deeply rooted in her Harlem heritage, shaping her self‑understanding. **In simple terms:** Her Harlem roots define her identity. Key Takeaway Embrace your cultural roots. Themes identity heritage self‑definition community Mood inspirational reflective Type personal cultural When to use this quote - personal memoirs - community activism - educational programs - family storytelling Key Concepts cultural studies psychology of identity social history Questions to Reflect On - How does your background shape your choices? - In what ways can you honor your heritage? A Different Perspective Identity can be complex and evolving. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Child Harlem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-harlem-3797350/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Deep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep/) [Harlem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harlem/) [Harlem Deep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harlem-deep-3797352/) [Harlem Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harlem-woman-3797349/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman/) [Woman Harlem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman-harlem-3797351/) ## Related quotes > [I do remember the numbers runners, I do remember the poverty and bread lines. Harlem stays with you forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/i-do-remember-the-numbers-runners-i-do-remember-the-poverty-and-bread/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [I don't think the arts would have been as meaningful to me if I hadn't grown up in Harlem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/i-don-t-think-the-arts-would-have-been-as-meaningful-to-me-if-i-hadn/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [We both grew up in the atmosphere of struggle, both Ossie and me, ... I come out of Harlem and Harlem comes out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/we-both-grew-up-in-the-atmosphere-of-struggle-both-ossie-and-me-i/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [The riot isn't seen in the movie, but it is alluded to. He has this one speech that gives a great sense of texture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-allen/the-riot-isn-t-seen-in-the-movie-but-it-is-alluded-to-he-has-this-one/) [Debbie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-allen/) > [I would say 'Harlem World' is a cult and at the end we're gonna have everybody believin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mase/i-would-say-harlem-world-is-a-cult-and-at-the-end-we-re-gonna-have/) [Mase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mase/) > [I'm lucky to live in New York, a city that offers so many options for lunch. I can pick up dumplings from a Midtown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/i-m-lucky-to-live-in-new-york-a-city-that-offers-so-many-options-for/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [If I go up to Harlem or down to Sixth Street, and I'm not dressed up or I'm not wearing my jewelry, then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-astor/if-i-go-up-to-harlem-or-down-to-sixth-street-and-i-m-not-dressed-up/) [Brooke Astor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-astor/) > [I haven't seen a professional player come out of New York in over 20 years since my brother Patrick came out. Blake spent a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/i-haven-t-seen-a-professional-player-come-out-of-new-york-in-over-20/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [It was something that came sort of matter-of-factually. Because there - it's like really - real honest engagement with the people around me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/it-was-something-that-came-sort-of-matter-of-factually-because-there/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [Harlem has always been the nexus of music, politics, culture, criminal figures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheo-hodari-coker/harlem-has-always-been-the-nexus-of-music-politics-culture-criminal/) [Cheo Hodari Coker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheo-hodari-coker/) > [Here - at this final hour, Harlem has come to bid farewell to one of its brightest hopes - extinguished now, and gone from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ossie-davis/here-at-this-final-hour-harlem-has-come-to-bid-farewell-to-one-of-its/) [Ossie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ossie-davis/) > [Harlem World' is all about me doing my thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mase/harlem-world-is-all-about-me-doing-my-thing/) [Mase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mase/) > [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/) > [Nonresidents have a tendency to rush their visits to Harlem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-gondelman/nonresidents-have-a-tendency-to-rush-their-visits-to-harlem/) [Josh Gondelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-gondelman/) > [Living at the YMCA in Harlem dramatically broadened my view of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/living-at-the-ymca-in-harlem-dramatically-broadened-my-view-of-the/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) ## More by Ruby Dee > [Just staying together is not a real virtue, if you're not happy. Or you're being denied. Or one person is being squashed. Or you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/just-staying-together-is-not-a-real-virtue-if-you-re-not-happy-or-you/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [I'm proud of doing 'Long Day's Journey into Night,' for which I won an ACE award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/i-m-proud-of-doing-long-day-s-journey-into-night-for-which-i-won-an/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [See, I don’t expect to win a prize for stoic control and dignity at mourning time. Death deserve tantrums. Beating back shocked indignation, kicks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/see-i-don-t-expect-to-win-a-prize-for-stoic-control-and-dignity-at/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [You hear people say, 'We take our Tennessee Williams very seriously. There is no laughter here.' It's full of humor! Not to laugh is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/you-hear-people-say-we-take-our-tennessee-williams-very-seriously/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [A trustworthy marriage has weathered temptation and anger and jealousy, resentment, self-righteousness and a little bit of selfishness. When you get over and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/a-trustworthy-marriage-has-weathered-temptation-and-anger-and/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [OK, boss, I don't mind shuffling, but I won't scratch my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/ok-boss-i-don-t-mind-shuffling-but-i-won-t-scratch-my-head/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [Marriage is really an exciting adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/marriage-is-really-an-exciting-adventure/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [We don't realize how much racism has tainted our self-image as human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/we-don-t-realize-how-much-racism-has-tainted-our-self-image-as-human/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [Gangsters lived in the neighborhood. They weren't apart from it. Their relationships with people were both benevolent and scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/gangsters-lived-in-the-neighborhood-they-weren-t-apart-from-it-their/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [My experience for myself as a performer is not one of high expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/my-experience-for-myself-as-a-performer-is-not-one-of-high/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [The Divine Impulse - it's always safe to follow it. We've got to trust it and go wherever it takes us. Especially women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/the-divine-impulse-it-s-always-safe-to-follow-it-we-ve-got-to-trust/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [Revolutionaries don't get job security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/revolutionaries-don-t-get-job-security/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [It's getting increasingly difficult to be a dreamer under any circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/it-s-getting-increasingly-difficult-to-be-a-dreamer-under-any/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [My whole life is not defined by what Hollywood does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/my-whole-life-is-not-defined-by-what-hollywood-does/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [I think I have something unique that I'd like to share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/i-think-i-have-something-unique-that-i-d-like-to-share/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) [Explore all 91 Ruby Dee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't know who I would be if I weren't this child from Harlem, this woman from Harlem. 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