--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: African-Americans assume I'm named after…" description: "\"African-Americans assume I'm named after the notorious Soledad prison or Mount Soledad in California. Latinos want to know if I'm lonely. That doesn't ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d7/soledad-o-brien-8701_actual_african-americans-assume-i-m-named-after_674386.jpg" --- # African-Americans assume I'm named after the notorious… ![“African-Americans assume I'm named after the notorious Soledad prison or Mount Soledad in California. Latinos want to know if I'm lonely. That doesn't fit, because I grew up with five siblings, and I have four kids of my own, so I'm not lonely at all, though I do often seek solitude, the actual…” quote by Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d7/soledad-o-brien-8701_actual_african-americans-assume-i-m-named-after_674386.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d7/soledad-o-brien-8701_actual_african-americans-assume-i-m-named-after_674386.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d7/soledad-o-brien-8701_actual_african-americans-assume-i-m-named-after_674386.jpg) > “African-Americans assume I'm named after the notorious Soledad prison or Mount Soledad in California. Latinos want to know if I'm lonely. That doesn't fit, because I grew up with five siblings, and I have four kids of my own, so I'm not lonely at all, though I do often seek solitude, the actual meaning of my name.” [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker clarifies that name assumptions are inaccurate and shares her family background and desire for solitude. **In simple terms:** Name stereotypes don’t reflect her reality. Key Takeaway Recognize individuality beyond labels. Themes identity stereotypes family solitude Mood thoughtful defensive Type personal sociological When to use this quote - media interviews - social media - public speaking Key Concepts cultural perception personal narrative social identity Questions to Reflect On - How do names shape expectations? - What does solitude mean to you? A Different Perspective Stereotypes persist despite clarification. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [California](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/california/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Latinos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latinos/) [Lonely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lonely/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Siblings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/siblings/) [Soledad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soledad/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) ## Related quotes > [“Lo terrible no es la muerte, sino las vidas que la gente vive o no vive hasta su muerte.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/lo-terrible-no-es-la-muerte-sino-las-vidas-que-la-gente-vive-o-no/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“No hay soledad peor que tu silencio.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-y-nez-g-mez/no-hay-soledad-peor-que-tu-silencio/) Rosa Yáñez Gómez > [“La soledad engendra dioses”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodolfo-wilcock/la-soledad-engendra-dioses/) Rodolfo Wilcock > ["Plaza de la Soledad" is a documentary about Carmen, Lety, Raquel and Esther, four strong women - middle-aged and older - who want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-goded/plaza-de-la-soledad-is-a-documentary-about-carmen-lety-raquel-and/) [Maya Goded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-goded/) > [“En la soledad no se encuentra más que lo que a la soledad se lleva.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-ramon-jimenez/en-la-soledad-no-se-encuentra-m-s-que-lo-que-a-la-soledad-se-lleva/) [Juan Ramón Jiménez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-ramon-jimenez/) > [De tu soledad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thalia/de-tu-soledad/) [Thalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thalia/) > [“Creo que los humanos guardamos muchas cosas importantes en la caja de nuestra alma para que no nos lastimen, para que no nos descubran,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dulce-mar-a/creo-que-los-humanos-guardamos-muchas-cosas-importantes-en-la-caja-de/) [Dulce María](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dulce-mar-a/) > [“A nadie le gusta la soledad. Pero no me interesa hacer amigos a cualquier precio. No estoy dispuesto a desilusionarme.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/a-nadie-le-gusta-la-soledad-pero-no-me-interesa-hacer-amigos-a/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“me recuerdan lo que ya no tengo. Y aunque no les envidio por su felicidad, hacen que mi soledad sea aún más profunda.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/me-recuerdan-lo-que-ya-no-tengo-y-aunque-no-les-envidio-por-su/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“No hay nada menos vacío que un estadio vacío. No hay nada menos mudo que las gradas sin nadie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/no-hay-nada-menos-vac-o-que-un-estadio-vac-o-no-hay-nada-menos-mudo/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [“... not far around the corner from every ugly experience is something really beautiful. And if you stop at every bitter comment you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/not-far-around-the-corner-from-every-ugly-experience-is-something/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [“porque las estirpes condenadas a cien años de soledad no tenían una segunda oportunidad sobre la tierra.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/porque-las-estirpes-condenadas-a-cien-anos-de-soledad-no-tenian-una/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“«No hay tiempo para discutir la soledad».”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-hay-tiempo-para-discutir-la-soledad/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A mi solo me gustaria estar en un lugar donde nunca me tuviera que ir.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dulce-mar-a/a-mi-solo-me-gustaria-estar-en-un-lugar-donde-nunca-me-tuviera-que-ir/) [Dulce María](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dulce-mar-a/) > [“Si acaso -madre- en mis sueños vuelve el miedo con su melodía insistente, no me dejes sola, no me dejes de nuevo habitar la…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/si-acaso-madre-en-mis-sue-os-vuelve-el-miedo-con-su-melod-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Soledad O'Brien > [When I was 13, I began relaxing my hair, and that meant when I turned 18 it began to crack and fall off, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/when-i-was-13-i-began-relaxing-my-hair-and-that-meant-when-i-turned/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [One thing that's certain: around the corner from every ugly thing, there's something really beautiful. If we stop at every bitter interaction; we'll never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/one-thing-that-s-certain-around-the-corner-from-every-ugly-thing/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [People will say you cannot get a job in a down economy. People will say you cannot get a job that you love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/people-will-say-you-cannot-get-a-job-in-a-down-economy-people-will/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [Audiences want great story telling; it's why white people watch my show 'Black in America.' It's why black people watch 'Latina in America.' All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/audiences-want-great-story-telling-it-s-why-white-people-watch-my/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [My hair journey involved a lot of trying to figure out how to deal with my hair as a bi-racial girl in a white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/my-hair-journey-involved-a-lot-of-trying-to-figure-out-how-to-deal/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [It is truly not fun to be the family that sticks out in an all-white community. On the other side, I have five brothers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/it-is-truly-not-fun-to-be-the-family-that-sticks-out-in-an-all-white/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [A smart politician needs to come in and create a plan for when our students graduate college, there are opportunities in fields that interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/a-smart-politician-needs-to-come-in-and-create-a-plan-for-when-our/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [At screenings for 'Black in America,' I've heard people say, 'Well you know, I never thought you were black until you did Katrina, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/at-screenings-for-black-in-america-i-ve-heard-people-say-well-you/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [Investing in girls can actually move the needle in communities... and can actually benefit boys, because girls are the mothers of boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/investing-in-girls-can-actually-move-the-needle-in-communities-and/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [Step out of the space you're in. Use fear to grow. We can change lives, starting with our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/step-out-of-the-space-you-re-in-use-fear-to-grow-we-can-change-lives/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [When you have a child who has special needs, you really start thinking about children across the board with special needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/when-you-have-a-child-who-has-special-needs-you-really-start-thinking/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [There is nothing worse than doing nothing and saying nothing when your voice is needed,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/there-is-nothing-worse-than-doing-nothing-and-saying-nothing-when/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [I have four relatively small children, and around fourth grade, they start doing big projects on Native Americas: everything is Native Americans in elementary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/i-have-four-relatively-small-children-and-around-fourth-grade-they/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [I come to New Orleans so often that, one day soon, someone's going to declare me a native. I love the food. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/i-come-to-new-orleans-so-often-that-one-day-soon-someone-s-going-to/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [I don't think being beautiful takes away from your credibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/i-don-t-think-being-beautiful-takes-away-from-your-credibility/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) [Explore all 78 Soledad O'Brien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) ## More Actual quotes > [Imagination is a pretty powerful thing, and when you're in the moment and you're riding a train and you're asked to look scared, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/imagination-is-a-pretty-powerful-thing-and-when-you-re-in-the-moment/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [Unlike the actual, the fictional explains itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/unlike-the-actual-the-fictional-explains-itself/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [To cover politics in Washington allows you to live in the very, very wide gap between what the actual truth is, and how people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/to-cover-politics-in-washington-allows-you-to-live-in-the-very-very/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [If the first bite is with the eye and the second with the nose, some people will never take that third, actual bite if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yotam-ottolenghi/if-the-first-bite-is-with-the-eye-and-the-second-with-the-nose-some/) [Yotam Ottolenghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yotam-ottolenghi/) > [All my notebooks would be filled with lyrics instead of actual notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koffee/all-my-notebooks-would-be-filled-with-lyrics-instead-of-actual-notes/) [Koffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koffee/) > [In the U.S., it's like, you start with a great script, and then on set - not everybody, but definitely in the Apatow group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/in-the-u-s-it-s-like-you-start-with-a-great-script-and-then-on-set/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [Seeing the actual, 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe', I absolutely loved it. It became one of my favorite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/seeing-the-actual-the-chronicles-of-narnia-the-lion-the-witch-and-the/) [Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/) > [All actual life is encounter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/all-actual-life-is-encounter/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) > [I heard I won 'best butt crack' on television recently. It's true. I did it, you guys. I made it. I wish I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-edelstein/i-heard-i-won-best-butt-crack-on-television-recently-it-s-true-i-did/) [Lisa Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-edelstein/) > [Technically and logically speaking, actual Victorian science fiction writers cannot be dubbed 'steampunks.' 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