--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that people in America…" description: "\"I think that people in America, unfortunately or fortunately, are just discovering different aspects of the humanity of African-American people. And so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ce/salim-akil-10564_african-american_i-think-that-people-in-america-unfortuna_2495673.jpg" --- # I think that people in America, unfortunately or… ![“I think that people in America, unfortunately or fortunately, are just discovering different aspects of the humanity of African-American people. And so I think with that discovery comes, 'Oh, you could be a superhero; you could be president or whatever it is that we thought you couldn't be.'” quote by Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ce/salim-akil-10564_african-american_i-think-that-people-in-america-unfortuna_2495673.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ce/salim-akil-10564_african-american_i-think-that-people-in-america-unfortuna_2495673.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ce/salim-akil-10564_african-american_i-think-that-people-in-america-unfortuna_2495673.jpg) > “I think that people in America, unfortunately or fortunately, are just discovering different aspects of the humanity of African-American people. And so I think with that discovery comes, 'Oh, you could be a superhero; you could be president or whatever it is that we thought you couldn't be.'” [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He observes that America is increasingly recognizing African‑American humanity, leading to broader role models and possibilities. **In simple terms:** America is discovering more about African‑American humanity. Key Takeaway Support expanding representation and opportunity. Themes representation identity progress Mood hopeful determined Type cultural motivational When to use this quote - casting decisions - educational curricula - community outreach Key Concepts social change media influence role models Questions to Reflect On - How can media responsibly expand representation? - What barriers remain for African‑American leadership? A Different Perspective Progress can be uneven and face backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I think America, unfortunately, collectively thinks of itself as the 'chosen people.' To my knowledge, there are no chosen people, we are all human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lear/i-think-america-unfortunately-collectively-thinks-of-itself-as-the/) [Norman Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lear/) > [In the United States of America, unfortunately we still live in a bubble of unreality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/in-the-united-states-of-america-unfortunately-we-still-live-in-a-2/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Michael Schultz's 'Cooley High' is a classic. Oftentimes, we don't get to see films about coming of age, especially for young African Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/michael-schultz-s-cooley-high-is-a-classic-oftentimes-we-don-t-get-to/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [There are so many families who do not come up in a traditional household. African Americans, Latins, and, I'm sure, whites as well, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/there-are-so-many-families-who-do-not-come-up-in-a-traditional/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [I don't walk around all the time thinking of myself as African American, but oftentimes in Hollywood, you are reminded of that in ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/i-don-t-walk-around-all-the-time-thinking-of-myself-as-african/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [I don't think that people in America are really given enough information about the Third World.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/i-don-t-think-that-people-in-america-are-really-given-enough/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [We don't want two-tier people in America. Those who are legal but not citizens, and citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/we-don-t-want-two-tier-people-in-america-those-who-are-legal-but-not/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [In my dream world gay people in America would get the right to marry, and not a one of them would use that right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/in-my-dream-world-gay-people-in-america-would-get-the-right-to-marry/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I've always had the sensation that people in America are always avant-garde. Very attentive to all the new innovations. But it's very specialized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-leone/i-ve-always-had-the-sensation-that-people-in-america-are-always-avant/) [Sergio Leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-leone/) > [American exceptionalism, in the broad sense, is not a bunch of braggadocious words people say, "Yeah, we're better people. We have a better country.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/american-exceptionalism-in-the-broad-sense-is-not-a-bunch-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We need to tell young people that America was built by men and women of all colors and that the future of this country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dean-myers/we-need-to-tell-young-people-that-america-was-built-by-men-and-women/) [Walter Dean Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-dean-myers/) > [The people of America are a people of property; almost every man is a freeholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-people-of-america-are-a-people-of-property-almost-every-man-is-a/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [America to me is where I grew up: in Brooklyn, around other black and Latino people who helped and loved each other. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jpegmafia/america-to-me-is-where-i-grew-up-in-brooklyn-around-other-black-and/) [JPEGMAFIA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jpegmafia/) > [If the people of America do not rise up, take ownership of our country, we're going to lose it forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/if-the-people-of-america-do-not-rise-up-take-ownership-of-our-country/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [Over no nation does the press hold a more absolute control than over the people of America, for the universal education of the poorest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/over-no-nation-does-the-press-hold-a-more-absolute-control-than-over/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) ## More by Salim Akil > [Jefferson Pierce is the epitome of what black men are: He loves his wife, his children, and the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/jefferson-pierce-is-the-epitome-of-what-black-men-are-he-loves-his/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [Michael Schultz's 'Cooley High' is a classic. Oftentimes, we don't get to see films about coming of age, especially for young African Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/michael-schultz-s-cooley-high-is-a-classic-oftentimes-we-don-t-get-to/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [As an artist, I write and I do what I know and what creatively comes out of me, and I think that other artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/as-an-artist-i-write-and-i-do-what-i-know-and-what-creatively-comes/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [Every time I get an opportunity to do what I love to do, it's huge. It never gets old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/every-time-i-get-an-opportunity-to-do-what-i-love-to-do-it-s-huge-it/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [When you're young, taking a risk doesn't necessarily feel like a risk because you're young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/when-you-re-young-taking-a-risk-doesn-t-necessarily-feel-like-a-risk/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [I don't walk around all the time thinking of myself as African American, but oftentimes in Hollywood, you are reminded of that in ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/i-don-t-walk-around-all-the-time-thinking-of-myself-as-african/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [It's a wonderful thing to see 'Wonder Woman' directed by a woman. That did have an affect on the character, the , and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/it-s-a-wonderful-thing-to-see-wonder-woman-directed-by-a-woman-that/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [There are so many families who do not come up in a traditional household. African Americans, Latins, and, I'm sure, whites as well, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/there-are-so-many-families-who-do-not-come-up-in-a-traditional/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [Come election time, black and white politicians put on their costumes of compassion and care, shake black hands, kiss black babies, sing 'We Shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/come-election-time-black-and-white-politicians-put-on-their-costumes/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [When you see a superhero that looks like you and lives in and fights in a neighborhood that is sort of like yours, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/when-you-see-a-superhero-that-looks-like-you-and-lives-in-and-fights/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [It doesn't make sense to constantly talk about the lack of diversity in Hollywood. We all know it's there. My wife and I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/it-doesn-t-make-sense-to-constantly-talk-about-the-lack-of-diversity/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [If you bury me in a grave, don't ever come visit - because you won't find me there. You'll find me in the books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/if-you-bury-me-in-a-grave-don-t-ever-come-visit-because-you-won-t/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [It's less about Trump and more about the people... 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Death has always been a constant companion of black people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/america-has-a-strange-relationship-with-its-racial-memory-death-has/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) [Explore all 64 Salim Akil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) ## More African american quotes > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. 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I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. 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