--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you see a black guy on TV, he's…" description: "\"When you see a black guy on TV, he's always a thug or always portrayed as someone that's in trouble. It spreads the message to everyone else that that'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/thomas-jones-24526_black_when-you-see-a-black-guy-on-tv-he-s-alwa_734860.png" --- # When you see a black guy on TV, he's always a thug or… ![“When you see a black guy on TV, he's always a thug or always portrayed as someone that's in trouble. It spreads the message to everyone else that that's who we are. People often don't try to understand black men as a whole. We're creative, strong and influential.” quote by Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/thomas-jones-24526_black_when-you-see-a-black-guy-on-tv-he-s-alwa_734860.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/thomas-jones-24526_black_when-you-see-a-black-guy-on-tv-he-s-alwa_734860.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d95/thomas-jones-24526_black_when-you-see-a-black-guy-on-tv-he-s-alwa_734860.png) > “When you see a black guy on TV, he's always a thug or always portrayed as someone that's in trouble. It spreads the message to everyone else that that's who we are. People often don't try to understand black men as a whole. We're creative, strong and influential.” [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stereotypical media portrayals shape public perception of Black men, ignoring their diversity and contributions. **In simple terms:** Media stereotypes limit understanding of Black men. Key Takeaway Challenge and and promote diverse representations. Themes representation stereotypes media identity diversity Mood frustrated hopeful determined Type critical analytical When to use this quote - Film casting - news reporting - advertising - education curricula Key Concepts Implicit bias cultural narrative social perception Questions to Reflect On - How can creators ensure balanced representation? - What role does audience demand play? A Different Perspective Stereotypes can be reinforced by audience preferences and market pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-guy-400330/) [Black guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-guys/) [Black Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-men-275532/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Influential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influential/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Spread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spread/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Thug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thug/) [Thug Portrayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thug-portrayed-5748232/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Try to understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-to-understand/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Tv Thug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tv-thug-5748233/) [Tvs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tvs/) [Understand Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-black-392826/) [Who we are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-we-are/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [For instance, if you're a black guy and you got pulled over, and you didn't know that any other black men were being pulled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-rankine/for-instance-if-you-re-a-black-guy-and-you-got-pulled-over-and-you/) [Claudia Rankine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-rankine/) > [That's what being nervous and sort of out of your comfort zone does. 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What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-gottfried/i-ve-never-understood-people-who-say-they-re-not-a-practicing-jew-you/) [Gilbert Gottfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-gottfried/) > [I voted for the black guy, and what we got was the white guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-voted-for-the-black-guy-and-what-we-got-was-the-white-guy/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [It's amazing that people still feel, 'Oh my gosh, it's a black guy.' We've been here for a long time; let's get used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyega/it-s-amazing-that-people-still-feel-oh-my-gosh-it-s-a-black-guy-we-ve/) [John Boyega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyega/) > [Prince is king to me. As this half-naked, short black guy who looked like a girl in the 70s and 80s, he was talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn/prince-is-king-to-me-as-this-half-naked-short-black-guy-who-looked/) [Robyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn/) > [I think I might vote for Barack Obama. Because I live in New York City and have been giving black guys change for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-think-i-might-vote-for-barack-obama-because-i-live-in-new-york-city/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [It was really bizarre. I was learning how to be a black guy from a white guy pretending to be a black man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/it-was-really-bizarre-i-was-learning-how-to-be-a-black-guy-from-a/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [I don't think I'm egotistical, and I know what my limits are: I'm a black guy who's probably losing his hair. But I'm happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-clarke/i-don-t-think-i-m-egotistical-and-i-know-what-my-limits-are-i-m-a/) [Noel Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-clarke/) > [I am more than a black guy. I am a person, I'm storyteller, I'm a son, I'm a friend, so I am all those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-am-more-than-a-black-guy-i-am-a-person-i-m-storyteller-i-m-a-son-i/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [My father was pretty independent. He was - he was arrested once in Nashville when he was on one of his sales trips because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/my-father-was-pretty-independent-he-was-he-was-arrested-once-in/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [If you are the normal white American, truth is you don't understand being black in America, and you instinctively underestimate the level of discrimination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/if-you-are-the-normal-white-american-truth-is-you-don-t-understand/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [I certainly understand the pain that has been brought about by the tragic death of Breonna Taylor. I understand that as a Black man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-cameron/i-certainly-understand-the-pain-that-has-been-brought-about-by-the/) [Daniel Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-cameron/) > [I don't understand how any black person can tell me that they're not pro-gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/i-don-t-understand-how-any-black-person-can-tell-me-that-they-re-not/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) ## More by Thomas Jones > [No one had ever made it big from my town until I was able to make it to the NFL and now the big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/no-one-had-ever-made-it-big-from-my-town-until-i-was-able-to-make-it/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [I had a great family. My father was in the Air Force, so we were always disciplined, goal oriented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/i-had-a-great-family-my-father-was-in-the-air-force-so-we-were-always/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [When I'm 75 years old, I want to say that I chased my dream. I didn't let other people's opinions dictate what I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/when-i-m-75-years-old-i-want-to-say-that-i-chased-my-dream-i-didn-t/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [Football was everything to me. There was the physical aspect, sure. I did pushups and sit-ups every night, even as a kid. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/football-was-everything-to-me-there-was-the-physical-aspect-sure-i/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [Friends may come and go, but barbecues accumulate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/friends-may-come-and-go-but-barbecues-accumulate/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [Many do with opportunities as children do at the seashore; they fill their little hands with sand, and then let the grains fall through,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/many-do-with-opportunities-as-children-do-at-the-seashore-they-fill/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [You know you no where near me so that line you can step back in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/you-know-you-no-where-near-me-so-that-line-you-can-step-back-in/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [My inspiration is my hometown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/my-inspiration-is-my-hometown/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [There are a lot of black men doing really well, taking care of their families, taking care of their wives, being successful, doing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/there-are-a-lot-of-black-men-doing-really-well-taking-care-of-their/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [I feel like there's no such thing as failure. When something doesn't go the way I want it to, I learn from it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/i-feel-like-there-s-no-such-thing-as-failure-when-something-doesn-t/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [Everybody dismissed athletes as being purely physical, but when you retire, you go from such an intense brain time - study of defense, audibles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/everybody-dismissed-athletes-as-being-purely-physical-but-when-you/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [As a football player, you're really an actor. I spent all Sunday getting into character. Sunday at 10 a.m., I have to be upset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/as-a-football-player-you-re-really-an-actor-i-spent-all-sunday/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [I'm a gym rat, I have to admit. I live in the gym, and now that I don't have to get beat up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/i-m-a-gym-rat-i-have-to-admit-i-live-in-the-gym-and-now-that-i-don-t/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [My inspiration is my hometown. I feel that because I'm representing my very overlooked region of Virginia, I have to keep accomplishing my goals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/my-inspiration-is-my-hometown-i-feel-that-because-i-m-representing-my/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) > [The common perception is it only happens to people who aren't paying attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jones/the-common-perception-is-it-only-happens-to-people-who-aren-t-paying/) [Thomas Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) [Explore all 24 Thomas Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jones/) ## 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. 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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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you see a black guy on TV, he's always a thug or always portrayed as someone that's in trouble. It spreads the message to everyone else that that's who we are. People often don't try to understand black men as a whole. 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