--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was growing up, anyone who wasn't…" description: "\"When I was growing up, anyone who wasn't white was black. It meant all of us. Though when I was at university, we started to be called Asians.\" — Sadiq..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/255/sadiq-khan-3603_asians_when-i-was-growing-up-anyone-who-wasn-t_2306075.jpg" --- # When I was growing up, anyone who wasn't white was black… ![“When I was growing up, anyone who wasn't white was black. It meant all of us. Though when I was at university, we started to be called Asians.” quote by Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/255/sadiq-khan-3603_asians_when-i-was-growing-up-anyone-who-wasn-t_2306075.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/255/sadiq-khan-3603_asians_when-i-was-growing-up-anyone-who-wasn-t_2306075.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/255/sadiq-khan-3603_asians_when-i-was-growing-up-anyone-who-wasn-t_2306075.jpg) > “When I was growing up, anyone who wasn't white was black. It meant all of us. Though when I was at university, we started to be called Asians.” [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Racial categories shift with social context, showing how identity labels are fluid and socially constructed. **In simple terms:** Race labels change across societies. Key Takeaway Recognize the fluidity of identity. Themes identity race social constructs fluidity Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - school - university - workplace - media discourse Key Concepts intersectionality social perception labeling Questions to Reflect On - How do you navigate changing identity labels? - What impact do labels have on self‑perception? A Different Perspective Labels can oversimplify complex identities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) ## Related quotes > [I remember the first time that I realized that being black meant that I wasn't allowed certain things. It was in the fourth grade,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-remember-the-first-time-that-i-realized-that-being-black-meant-that/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [I could easily have decided that life was cruel, that being black meant everything was stacked against me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-could-easily-have-decided-that-life-was-cruel-that-being-black/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [“sup white girl?” Jerod liked to think he was black. He wasn't. He was as white as freshly fallen snow. But we all had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/airicka-phoenix/sup-white-girl-jerod-liked-to-think-he-was-black-he-wasn-t-he-was-as/) [Airicka Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/airicka-phoenix/) > [There wasn't much white people would allow us to do in those days. You could be a schoolteacher or an athlete to get away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/there-wasn-t-much-white-people-would-allow-us-to-do-in-those-days-you/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [I was the only one at stage school who wasn't white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leona-lewis/i-was-the-only-one-at-stage-school-who-wasn-t-white/) [Leona Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leona-lewis/) > [I was mad when I heard The Amazing Race wasn't about white people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/i-was-mad-when-i-heard-the-amazing-race-wasn-t-about-white-people/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [“wasn’t white. I felt utterly despondent and ready to give up. DI Fisher: But you didn’t give up, did you? CMB: No. No, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-hayes/wasn-t-white-i-felt-utterly-despondent-and-ready-to-give-up-di-fisher/) Samantha Hayes > [Asian players train so hard. Most of the time, on Monday mornings, the only people you see on the range are Asians. I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yani-tseng/asian-players-train-so-hard-most-of-the-time-on-monday-mornings-the/) [Yani Tseng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yani-tseng/) > [I think when people talk about race relations in America, they talk about African-American and white people. Asians are not often brought into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/i-think-when-people-talk-about-race-relations-in-america-they-talk/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [More Asians need to be on television as a positive role model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-tom/more-asians-need-to-be-on-television-as-a-positive-role-model/) [Kiana Tom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-tom/) > [I feel like there's this need that the Asian-American community has to feel like people. It's something that Asians in Asia do not understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-feel-like-there-s-this-need-that-the-asian-american-community-has/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [I didn't think it was possible for Asians to be actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-didn-t-think-it-was-possible-for-asians-to-be-actors/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [I'm proud of my roots. There are not many Asians in the music industry so it's important for me to tell people where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-lee/i-m-proud-of-my-roots-there-are-not-many-asians-in-the-music-industry/) [Coco Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-lee/) > [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/) > [You can have Asians being leading men that are sex symbols. You can have leading women powering through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/you-can-have-asians-being-leading-men-that-are-sex-symbols-you-can/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) ## More by Sadiq Khan > [I never understood how much running changes your life. I'm now obsessed. When not trying to beat my personal best, I'm talking to other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/i-never-understood-how-much-running-changes-your-life-i-m-now/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [I used to do stand-up, actually. I had a ten-minute routine I did for a thing called 'Stand Up for Labour' where we'd go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/i-used-to-do-stand-up-actually-i-had-a-ten-minute-routine-i-did-for-a/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [Vibrant political parties are vital to the health of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/vibrant-political-parties-are-vital-to-the-health-of-our-democracy/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [When Pakistan beat England at cricket, my Pakistani cousins remind me how English and British I am. When they say, 'You're one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/when-pakistan-beat-england-at-cricket-my-pakistani-cousins-remind-me/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [Londoners, Mancunians, and Brits across the country will never, ever be cowed by terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/londoners-mancunians-and-brits-across-the-country-will-never-ever-be/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [Victims of crime and the wider community deserve a grown-up debate on our criminal justice system and how we can make it work -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/victims-of-crime-and-the-wider-community-deserve-a-grown-up-debate-on/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [I see this rise in rough sleeping and homelessness - in one of the wealthiest cities in the world - as a growing source…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/i-see-this-rise-in-rough-sleeping-and-homelessness-in-one-of-the/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [My experience in relation to taking on the preachers of hate was saying to them it's compatible being British, being Western, being Muslim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/my-experience-in-relation-to-taking-on-the-preachers-of-hate-was/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [The U.K. has some of the best protections in law for religious groups in the world. They aren't perfect, but they provide a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/the-u-k-has-some-of-the-best-protections-in-law-for-religious-groups/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [Muslims, like most other voters, don't just want 'one of their own,' they want someone who best represents their values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/muslims-like-most-other-voters-don-t-just-want-one-of-their-own-they/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [London has always been open to trade, people, ideas. We have to keep that. I want to compete not just with New York, Paris,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/london-has-always-been-open-to-trade-people-ideas-we-have-to-keep/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [London is a great city full of amazing people from all backgrounds and when Londoners face adversity, we always pull together. We stand up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/london-is-a-great-city-full-of-amazing-people-from-all-backgrounds/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [Victims want to know that the true perpetrators of their crime are convicted - legal aid helps achieve this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/victims-want-to-know-that-the-true-perpetrators-of-their-crime-are/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [Voting, for me, has always been a family affair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/voting-for-me-has-always-been-a-family-affair/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [Immigrant communities have been genuinely accepted in London.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/immigrant-communities-have-been-genuinely-accepted-in-london/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) [Explore all 126 Sadiq Khan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) ## More Asians quotes > [You can have Asians being leading men that are sex symbols. You can have leading women powering through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/you-can-have-asians-being-leading-men-that-are-sex-symbols-you-can/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [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/) > [I'm proud of my roots. There are not many Asians in the music industry so it's important for me to tell people where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-lee/i-m-proud-of-my-roots-there-are-not-many-asians-in-the-music-industry/) [Coco Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-lee/) > [I didn't think it was possible for Asians to be actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-didn-t-think-it-was-possible-for-asians-to-be-actors/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [I feel like there's this need that the Asian-American community has to feel like people. It's something that Asians in Asia do not understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/i-feel-like-there-s-this-need-that-the-asian-american-community-has/) [John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/) > [More Asians need to be on television as a positive role model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-tom/more-asians-need-to-be-on-television-as-a-positive-role-model/) [Kiana Tom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-tom/) > [I think when people talk about race relations in America, they talk about African-American and white people. Asians are not often brought into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-chieng/i-think-when-people-talk-about-race-relations-in-america-they-talk/) [Ronny Chieng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-chieng/) > [Asian players train so hard. Most of the time, on Monday mornings, the only people you see on the range are Asians. I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yani-tseng/asian-players-train-so-hard-most-of-the-time-on-monday-mornings-the/) [Yani Tseng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yani-tseng/) > [My heritage is something that I have always been aware of, however, some would say that there is a disproportionately low number of Asians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-adrian/my-heritage-is-something-that-i-have-always-been-aware-of-however/) Nathan Adrian > [“Some of us are happy with our African hair, thank you very much. I don't want some poor Indian girl's hair. And I wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/some-of-us-are-happy-with-our-african-hair-thank-you-very-much-i-don/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [If I'm privileged to be elected, I'd be blessed to represent a diverse district, including South Asians and Indian Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/if-i-m-privileged-to-be-elected-i-d-be-blessed-to-represent-a-diverse/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [When I was growing up, Asians weren't known for dancing. I knew all my older aunts and uncles did, like, ballroom dancing and stuff.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/when-i-was-growing-up-asians-weren-t-known-for-dancing-i-knew-all-my/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [Our political establishment refuses to use the word 'segregated.' They call the schools diverse, which means half black, half Hispanic, and maybe two white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/our-political-establishment-refuses-to-use-the-word-segregated-they/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [“SVU, CSI, CSI: NY. These shows, they're all about things being done to females and children. If they were full of thing being done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-eagar/svu-csi-csi-ny-these-shows-they-re-all-about-things-being-done-to/) [Kirsty Eagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-eagar/) > [Few politicians and analysts understand the very real fault lines among Asian sub-groups: Some Asians have done very well for themselves. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-wagner/few-politicians-and-analysts-understand-the-very-real-fault-lines/) [Alex Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-wagner/) Browse all 102 Asians quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was growing up, anyone who wasn't white was black. It meant all of us. 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