--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think the arts would have been as…" description: "\"I don't think the arts would have been as meaningful to me if I hadn't grown up in Harlem.\" — Ruby Dee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/ruby-dee-7465_art_i-don-t-think-the-arts-would-have-been-a_2380569.png" --- # I don't think the arts would have been as meaningful to me… ![“I don't think the arts would have been as meaningful to me if I hadn't grown up in Harlem.” quote by Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/ruby-dee-7465_art_i-don-t-think-the-arts-would-have-been-a_2380569.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/ruby-dee-7465_art_i-don-t-think-the-arts-would-have-been-a_2380569.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/ruby-dee-7465_art_i-don-t-think-the-arts-would-have-been-a_2380569.png) > “I don't think the arts would have been as meaningful to me if I hadn't grown up in Harlem.” [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. Personal background shapes artistic meaning; Harlem influenced her artistic identity. **In simple terms:** Harlem shaped her art. Key Takeaway Recognize how environment influences creativity. Themes identity art culture Mood reflective proud Type cultural inspirational When to use this quote - writing - painting - performance - community projects Key Concepts sociocultural influence personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - How does your upbringing affect your work? - Can art transcend its origins? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on place may overlook individual agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Harlem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harlem/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) ## Related quotes > [Even if I hadn't grown up …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-if-i-hadn-t-grown-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People at school used to assume I was going to be a footballer, and it wasn't until I got to 16, when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/people-at-school-used-to-assume-i-was-going-to-be-a-footballer-and-it/) [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/) > [I think I would have had less tumult in my life if I hadn't grown up in my particular house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-bonaduce/i-think-i-would-have-had-less-tumult-in-my-life-if-i-hadn-t-grown-up/) [Danny Bonaduce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-bonaduce/) > [I think, if I hadn't grown as an actor, I wouldn't have been offered television, let alone films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milind-soman/i-think-if-i-hadn-t-grown-as-an-actor-i-wouldn-t-have-been-offered/) [Milind Soman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milind-soman/) > [I hadn't grown up with 'The Hobbit;' I hadn't grown up with 'Lord of The Rings,' anything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-hadn-t-grown-up-with-the-hobbit-i-hadn-t-grown-up-with-lord-of-the/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [I hadn't grown up thinking that I have to be this big actress in Bollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parineeti-chopra/i-hadn-t-grown-up-thinking-that-i-have-to-be-this-big-actress-in/) [Parineeti Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parineeti-chopra/) > [In school, I was a beanpole with a nose I hadn't grown into.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/in-school-i-was-a-beanpole-with-a-nose-i-hadn-t-grown-into/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [I hadn't grown up always aspiring to be a CEO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-ahrendts/i-hadn-t-grown-up-always-aspiring-to-be-a-ceo/) [Angela Ahrendts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-ahrendts/) > [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.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/i-don-t-know-who-i-would-be-if-i-weren-t-this-child-from-harlem-this/) [Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think the arts would have been as meaningful to me if I hadn't grown up in Harlem.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ruby Dee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/i-don-t-think-the-arts-would-have-been-as-meaningful-to-me-if-i-hadn/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/i-don-t-think-the-arts-would-have-been-as-meaningful-to-me-if-i-hadn/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/ruby-dee-7465_art_i-don-t-think-the-arts-would-have-been-a_2380569.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/ruby-dee-7465_art_i-don-t-think-the-arts-would-have-been-a_2380569.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb3/ruby-dee-7465_art_i-don-t-think-the-arts-would-have-been-a_2380569.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think the arts would have been as meaningful to me if I hadn't grown up in Harlem.” — Ruby Dee", "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": "Ruby Dee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think the arts would...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/i-don-t-think-the-arts-would-have-been-as-meaningful-to-me-if-i-hadn/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/i-don-t-think-the-arts-would-have-been-as-meaningful-to-me-if-i-hadn/#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 } } ] } ```