--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People make jokes about how black people…" description: "\"People make jokes about how black people are the first ones to be killed off.\" — Sanaa Lathan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/sanaa-lathan-12439_black_people-make-jokes-about-how-black-people_619755.png" --- # People make jokes about how black people are the first… ![“People make jokes about how black people are the first ones to be killed off.” quote by Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/sanaa-lathan-12439_black_people-make-jokes-about-how-black-people_619755.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/sanaa-lathan-12439_black_people-make-jokes-about-how-black-people_619755.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/sanaa-lathan-12439_black_people-make-jokes-about-how-black-people_619755.png) > “People make jokes about how black people are the first ones to be killed off.” [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the tragic reality of racial targeting, critiquing the dehumanizing humor surrounding black lives. **In simple terms:** Black people are unfairly targeted and mocked. Key Takeaway Confront and reject racist jokes. Themes racism violence social commentary Mood angry urgent Type critical activist When to use this quote - social media - stand‑up comedy - community dialogue Key Concepts racial injustice media representation Questions to Reflect On - How can we change harmful narratives? - What responsibilities do creators have? A Different Perspective M be sensitive to context of humor. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-people/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Jokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jokes/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Even if its a white crowd, I tell my jokes for the four black people in the room, not the 100 whites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-owen/even-if-its-a-white-crowd-i-tell-my-jokes-for-the-four-black-people/) [Gary Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-owen/) > [“The power of the witch is in her hair. The ones who killed her knew this. They cut off her long tresses, tied them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-attanasio/the-power-of-the-witch-is-in-her-hair-the-ones-who-killed-her-knew/) [A.A. Attanasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-attanasio/) > [But then, his revenge had been more direct. He’d hunted down the ones who’d killed his sister and nephew – those who’d survived his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/but-then-his-revenge-had-been-more-direct-he-d-hunted-down-the-ones/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [It's clear to me, the lies you use. The ones that killed me ain't hurting you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-wanted/it-s-clear-to-me-the-lies-you-use-the-ones-that-killed-me-ain-t/) [The Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-wanted/) > [Even if it's a white crowd, I tell my jokes for the four black people in the room, not the 100 whites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-owen/even-if-it-s-a-white-crowd-i-tell-my-jokes-for-the-four-black-people/) [Gary Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-owen/) > [A white lady came running up to me after a show. She goes, What gives you the right to do jokes about black people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tosh/a-white-lady-came-running-up-to-me-after-a-show-she-goes-what-gives/) [Daniel Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tosh/) > [I don't tend to like race jokes. I don't like Jew jokes and black jokes, and they make me very uncomfortable, probably because I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iliza-shlesinger/i-don-t-tend-to-like-race-jokes-i-don-t-like-jew-jokes-and-black/) [Iliza Shlesinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iliza-shlesinger/) > [I think one of my first jokes - in the black community, there's people who have jokes about skin tone. People like, 'You so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-think-one-of-my-first-jokes-in-the-black-community-there-s-people/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [I always have humour in my action movies. I think characters that make jokes under fire are more real. It somehow helps put you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-black/i-always-have-humour-in-my-action-movies-i-think-characters-that-make/) [Shane Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-black/) > [You shouldn't make jokes if it makes you so unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/you-shouldn-t-make-jokes-if-it-makes-you-so-unhappy/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [I like to smile a lot before going in the car. I make jokes, even on the grid, and then I can still manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-grosjean/i-like-to-smile-a-lot-before-going-in-the-car-i-make-jokes-even-on/) [Romain Grosjean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-grosjean/) > [I make jokes about the fact that as a neuro-surgeon I shouldn't be required at a motor race because the drivers don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-watkins/i-make-jokes-about-the-fact-that-as-a-neuro-surgeon-i-shouldn-t-be/) Sid Watkins > [Go on and make your jokes Mr… Jokie Joke-maker! -White Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodgeball/go-on-and-make-your-jokes-mr-jokie-joke-maker-white-goodman/) Dodgeball > [I decided that instead of making jokes about politics, I need to take part in it, and therefore, I can't make jokes and participate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/i-decided-that-instead-of-making-jokes-about-politics-i-need-to-take/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [The Earth will be around for a long time before you have a funnier president than Obama. He has a stand-up's cadence and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-meyers/the-earth-will-be-around-for-a-long-time-before-you-have-a-funnier/) [Seth Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-meyers/) ## More by Sanaa Lathan > [People are going to always have their opinions whether you date a black man or not. I've had girlfriends, family members comment on black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/people-are-going-to-always-have-their-opinions-whether-you-date-a/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [Im loving the ingredients that are in Pantene, and it smells so good, and thats important to me. It has cassia and aloe vera.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/im-loving-the-ingredients-that-are-in-pantene-and-it-smells-so-good/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [I had never picked up a basketball before. I went through a grueling audition process. It was almost as if I was learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/i-had-never-picked-up-a-basketball-before-i-went-through-a-grueling/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [There is a lot of struggle in being an actor; you need so much emotional strength, no matter what level of stardom you have,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/there-is-a-lot-of-struggle-in-being-an-actor-you-need-so-much/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [I'm loving the ingredients that are in Pantene, and it smells so good, and that's important to me. It has cassia and aloe vera.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/i-m-loving-the-ingredients-that-are-in-pantene-and-it-smells-so-good/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [I wouldn't want anyone to destroy the earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/i-wouldn-t-want-anyone-to-destroy-the-earth/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [Like the guy I was dating. White, liberal, educated. I went to meet his family and I think that they probably didn't know they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/like-the-guy-i-was-dating-white-liberal-educated-i-went-to-meet-his/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [If you're in love and there's that chemistry, that's what it's all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/if-you-re-in-love-and-there-s-that-chemistry-that-s-what-it-s-all/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [I've never gotten any complaints about my headscarf from a man. You can be sexy with a head wrap!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/i-ve-never-gotten-any-complaints-about-my-headscarf-from-a-man-you/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [When you're on a set it can be very tedious and slow. It's just not as big as when you see it on film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/when-you-re-on-a-set-it-can-be-very-tedious-and-slow-it-s-just-not-as/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [To make a movie is very grueling at times. Long, long hours and cold weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/to-make-a-movie-is-very-grueling-at-times-long-long-hours-and-cold/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [I have dated all races, and I believe you should be free to do whatever you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/i-have-dated-all-races-and-i-believe-you-should-be-free-to-do/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [There's a lot of Kenya that's not like me. I like Birkenstocks, granola, my dog Pops.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/there-s-a-lot-of-kenya-that-s-not-like-me-i-like-birkenstocks-granola/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [ My characteristics \[of Ideal Black Man.\] aren't as specific. I'm more general. I'm more like, I have to be able to talk to him.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/my-characteristics-of-ideal-black-man-aren-t-as-specific-i-m-more/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) > [ The inspiration for this movie \[Something New\] was this Newsweek article that came out a couple of years ago that talks about 42.4 percent… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/the-inspiration-for-this-movie-something-new-was-this-newsweek/) [Sanaa Lathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) [Explore all 55 Sanaa Lathan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/) ## More Black quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [I know how hard it is to be a woman, especially a black woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-be-a-woman-especially-a-black-woman/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [Hollywood is so fixated on keeping it that way because it's generating the buzz, but that representation isn't right. I definitely feel like it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/hollywood-is-so-fixated-on-keeping-it-that-way-because-it-s/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) Browse all 11,655 Black quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People make jokes about how black people are the first ones to be killed off.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sanaa Lathan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/people-make-jokes-about-how-black-people-are-the-first-ones-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Black" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/people-make-jokes-about-how-black-people-are-the-first-ones-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/sanaa-lathan-12439_black_people-make-jokes-about-how-black-people_619755.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/sanaa-lathan-12439_black_people-make-jokes-about-how-black-people_619755.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8c/sanaa-lathan-12439_black_people-make-jokes-about-how-black-people_619755.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People make jokes about how black people are the first ones to be killed off.” — Sanaa Lathan", "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": "Sanaa Lathan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaa-lathan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People make jokes about how black...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/people-make-jokes-about-how-black-people-are-the-first-ones-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaa-lathan/people-make-jokes-about-how-black-people-are-the-first-ones-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```