--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know I'm a black actor, but really, I'm…" description: "\"I know I'm a black actor, but really, I'm an actor who happens to be black.\" — Stephan James" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/stephan-james-17537_actor_i-know-i-m-a-black-actor-but-really-i-m_1443123.jpg" --- # I know I'm a black actor, but really, I'm an actor who… ![“I know I'm a black actor, but really, I'm an actor who happens to be black.” quote by Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/stephan-james-17537_actor_i-know-i-m-a-black-actor-but-really-i-m_1443123.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/stephan-james-17537_actor_i-know-i-m-a-black-actor-but-really-i-m_1443123.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/stephan-james-17537_actor_i-know-i-m-a-black-actor-but-really-i-m_1443123.jpg) > “I know I'm a black actor, but really, I'm an actor who happens to be black.” [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identity is multifaceted; race is one aspect, not the sole definition of a person. **In simple terms:** Identity is more than race. Key Takeaway Recognize and honor all parts of yourself. Themes identity race humanity Mood thoughtful empowering introspective Type social personal When to use this quote - workplace - social activism - personal relationships - media representation Key Concepts Intersectionality self-concept social perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you define yourself beyond race? - What aspects of identity matter most to you? A Different Perspective Focusing on race alone can oversimplify experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Black Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-actor/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [As a writer, you know what the purpose of the scene is. It really has nothing to do with the actor so you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-heslov/as-a-writer-you-know-what-the-purpose-of-the-scene-is-it-really-has/) [Grant Heslov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-heslov/) > [Working with Jean-Claude is a lot of fun. Because he's a great actor who also happens to be a fighter. That combination doesn't usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-lundgren/working-with-jean-claude-is-a-lot-of-fun-because-he-s-a-great-actor/) [Dolph Lundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-lundgren/) > [I've never thought of myself as a classic leading man. I'm a character actor who happens to play leading roles. Come on, look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nesbitt/i-ve-never-thought-of-myself-as-a-classic-leading-man-i-m-a-character/) [James Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nesbitt/) > [I don't think of myself as a New York actor; I think about this guy who's an actor who happens to be from New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-luke/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-new-york-actor-i-think-about-this-guy/) [Jeremy Luke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-luke/) > [I love working with the right actor, and if the right actor happens to be unknown, that should be allowed, too, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-love-working-with-the-right-actor-and-if-the-right-actor-happens-to/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [I don't see myself as a 'black actor,' I'm just Shemar Moore the actor. I'm very proud to be black, but I'm just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shemar-moore/i-don-t-see-myself-as-a-black-actor-i-m-just-shemar-moore-the-actor-i/) [Shemar Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shemar-moore/) > [I was lucky to get into drama school and become a professional actor. No-one ever mentioned the colour of my skin. It's only when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harewood/i-was-lucky-to-get-into-drama-school-and-become-a-professional-actor/) [David Harewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harewood/) > [I was reluctant to play Othello. It seemed like such a 'black actor' cliche, but when I finally did, in my 40s, I related…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paterson-joseph/i-was-reluctant-to-play-othello-it-seemed-like-such-a-black-actor/) [Paterson Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paterson-joseph/) > [A black actor is perfect for 'Kojak.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/a-black-actor-is-perfect-for-kojak/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [I believe it's important to have equal opportunities as a black actor. My way of fighting for it is through my art, by not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachi-kirby/i-believe-it-s-important-to-have-equal-opportunities-as-a-black-actor/) [Malachi Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachi-kirby/) > [I never thought about being the first black actor to win, even though everybody else talked about that. If I stop to think as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-sy/i-never-thought-about-being-the-first-black-actor-to-win-even-though/) [Omar Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-sy/) > [As a black actor, you always have the feeling that there's not as much work out there as for a white counterpart, but is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-missick/as-a-black-actor-you-always-have-the-feeling-that-there-s-not-as-much/) [Dorian Missick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-missick/) > [You get into these executive offices, and people say, 'Oh, we have this project. Wait a minute, guys, we need diversity - let's choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldis-hodge/you-get-into-these-executive-offices-and-people-say-oh-we-have-this/) [Aldis Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldis-hodge/) > [The pilots I did test for, I was the only black actor testing against white actors for parts that were written white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-august-richards/the-pilots-i-did-test-for-i-was-the-only-black-actor-testing-against/) [J. August Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-august-richards/) > [You know what? I never really factor Hollywood into anything. I'm a black actor, so I can't really control what Hollywood thinks. I gotta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-foxx/you-know-what-i-never-really-factor-hollywood-into-anything-i-m-a/) [Jamie Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-foxx/) ## More by Stephan James > [What I've learned about that word is context, where the world is coming from - in the era the film is set, it obviously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/what-i-ve-learned-about-that-word-is-context-where-the-world-is/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [My parents are from Jamaica, and I love reggae music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/my-parents-are-from-jamaica-and-i-love-reggae-music/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [John Lewis is such a remarkable human being. Literally, such a beautiful human being. I remember the first time I met him. We were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/john-lewis-is-such-a-remarkable-human-being-literally-such-a/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [Jesse Owens had to be a very strong person. There were a lot of protests, but I think that he knew, despite the pressure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/jesse-owens-had-to-be-a-very-strong-person-there-were-a-lot-of/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I want to be a superhero, I want to be Spider-Man or Batman. Will you let me know if you have any connections? Let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-want-to-be-a-superhero-i-want-to-be-spider-man-or-batman-will-you/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I enjoy challenging perspective - challenging ideas of what it means to be a black man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-enjoy-challenging-perspective-challenging-ideas-of-what-it-means-to/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I really believe in speaking things into existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-really-believe-in-speaking-things-into-existence/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I care a lot about who I'm working with as directors and other actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-care-a-lot-about-who-i-m-working-with-as-directors-and-other-actors/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [When is not a good time to speak up for our vets and support them in any way that we can?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/when-is-not-a-good-time-to-speak-up-for-our-vets-and-support-them-in/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [Everything I do is just an opportunity to tell a great story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/everything-i-do-is-just-an-opportunity-to-tell-a-great-story/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I feel like I've always been an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-feel-like-i-ve-always-been-an-actor/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [We have to start creating more material that gives a platform for people of colour, for women, for old people and young people alike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/we-have-to-start-creating-more-material-that-gives-a-platform-for/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [The issue of racism happens all over the world. Granted, people - especially Americans - don't know the the Canadian culture. But if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/the-issue-of-racism-happens-all-over-the-world-granted-people/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I've been a big fan of Barry Jenkins for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-ve-been-a-big-fan-of-barry-jenkins-for-a-long-time/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) > [I realize the importance of retelling those stories is so that, one, we don't forget what our ancestors had to do so we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-realize-the-importance-of-retelling-those-stories-is-so-that-one-we/) [Stephan James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) [Explore all 37 Stephan James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know I'm a black actor, but really, I'm an actor who happens to be black.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephan James" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-know-i-m-a-black-actor-but-really-i-m-an-actor-who-happens-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-know-i-m-a-black-actor-but-really-i-m-an-actor-who-happens-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/stephan-james-17537_actor_i-know-i-m-a-black-actor-but-really-i-m_1443123.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/stephan-james-17537_actor_i-know-i-m-a-black-actor-but-really-i-m_1443123.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/672/stephan-james-17537_actor_i-know-i-m-a-black-actor-but-really-i-m_1443123.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know I'm a black actor, but really, I'm an actor who happens to be black.” — Stephan James", "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": "Stephan James", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-james/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I know I'm a black actor,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-know-i-m-a-black-actor-but-really-i-m-an-actor-who-happens-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-james/i-know-i-m-a-black-actor-but-really-i-m-an-actor-who-happens-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 } } ] } ```