--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Occasionally, as children, we might…" description: "\"Occasionally, as children, we might figure out how to call somebody a name, and they would figure out how to call us. But it wasn't - it was so light. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/toni-morrison-271_awareness_occasionally-as-children-we-might-figure_2474923.jpg" --- # Occasionally, as children, we might figure out how to call… ![“Occasionally, as children, we might figure out how to call somebody a name, and they would figure out how to call us. But it wasn't - it was so light. It was so fluffy. I didn't really have a strong awareness of segregation and the separation of races until I left Lorain, Ohio.” quote by Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/toni-morrison-271_awareness_occasionally-as-children-we-might-figure_2474923.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/toni-morrison-271_awareness_occasionally-as-children-we-might-figure_2474923.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/382/toni-morrison-271_awareness_occasionally-as-children-we-might-figure_2474923.jpg) > “Occasionally, as children, we might figure out how to call somebody a name, and they would figure out how to call us. But it wasn't - it was so light. It was so fluffy. I didn't really have a strong awareness of segregation and the separation of races until I left Lorain, Ohio.” [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator reflects on early childhood innocence before recognizing racial segregation later in life. **In simple terms:** Childhood innocence before realizing racism. Key Takeaway Recognize how early experiences shape later awareness. Themes identity racism growth awareness Mood reflective thoughtful nostalgic Type literary personal When to use this quote - childhood friendships - moving to a new place - school integration - community interactions Key Concepts socialization racial consciousness personal development Questions to Reflect On - How did your environment shape your understanding of race? - When did you first notice social divisions? A Different Perspective Early innocence may mask systemic issues, requiring later reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Ohio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ohio/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Segregation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/segregation/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) ## Related quotes > [The only way for peace between the races is a separation of the races.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/the-only-way-for-peace-between-the-races-is-a-separation-of-the-races/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [There is a natural disgust in the minds of nearly all white people to the idea of indiscriminate amalgamation of the white and black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/there-is-a-natural-disgust-in-the-minds-of-nearly-all-white-people-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [One of the points in which I was especially interested was the Jim Crow regulations, that is, the system of separation of the races…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stannard-baker/one-of-the-points-in-which-i-was-especially-interested-was-the-jim/) [Ray Stannard Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stannard-baker/) > [Segregation or separation is thus a basic principle of Biblical Law with respect to religion and morality. Every attempt to destroy this principle is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-rushdoony/segregation-or-separation-is-thus-a-basic-principle-of-biblical-law/) [R.J. Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-rushdoony/) > [By explaining the difference between segregation and separation. Segregation is that which is forced upon an inferior by a superior. Separation is done voluntarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/by-explaining-the-difference-between-segregation-and-separation/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [We don't go for segregation. We go for separation. Separation is when you have your own. You control your own economy; you control your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/we-don-t-go-for-segregation-we-go-for-separation-separation-is-when-2/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [We don't go for segregation. We go for separation. Separation is when you have your own. You control your own economy; you control your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/we-don-t-go-for-segregation-we-go-for-separation-separation-is-when/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [In Ohio seasons are theatrical. Each one enters like a prima donna, convinced its performance is the reason the world has people in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/in-ohio-seasons-are-theatrical-each-one-enters-like-a-prima-donna/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [It's always seemed to me that black people's grace has been with what they do with language. 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He could see no future in lying around on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmer-kelton/he-liked-to-think-that-heaven-was-what-each-person-wanted-it-to-be-he/) [Elmer Kelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmer-kelton/) > [You don’t create a diamond by rubbing it with fluffy bunny slippers. You need to apply pressure and heat. 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It may discuss all sort of terrible things, but there must be satisfaction at the end.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/for-me-art-is-the-restoration-of-order-it-may-discuss-all-sort-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“To Sethe, the future was a matter of keeping the past at bay”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/to-sethe-the-future-was-a-matter-of-keeping-the-past-at-bay/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Hate does that. Burns off everything but itself, so whatever your grievance is, your face looks just like your enemy's.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/hate-does-that-burns-off-everything-but-itself-so-whatever-your/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“You know how a star is supposed to twinkle? 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Its threat gave her direction, clarity, audacity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/she-was-fierce-in-the-presence-of-death-heroic-even-as-she-was-at-no/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) [Explore all 774 Toni Morrison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) ## More Awareness quotes > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. 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