--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My perspective comes in part from being a…" description: "\"My perspective comes in part from being a New York black lady, in part from being an engineer. I know I'm smart and have opinions worth being heard.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/601/ursula-burns-17247_black_my-perspective-comes-in-part-from-being_771789.jpg" --- # My perspective comes in part from being a New York black… ![“My perspective comes in part from being a New York black lady, in part from being an engineer. I know I'm smart and have opinions worth being heard.” quote by Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/601/ursula-burns-17247_black_my-perspective-comes-in-part-from-being_771789.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/601/ursula-burns-17247_black_my-perspective-comes-in-part-from-being_771789.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/601/ursula-burns-17247_black_my-perspective-comes-in-part-from-being_771789.jpg) > “My perspective comes in part from being a New York black lady, in part from being an engineer. I know I'm smart and have opinions worth being heard.” [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being a Black female engineer in New York shapes a confident, opinionated perspective that deserves a. **In simple terms:** NY Black female engineer, confident, opinionated. Key Takeaway Speak up and claim space. Themes identity confidence engineer diversity Mood inspirational assertive Type leadership empowerment When to use this quote - Corporate leadership - STEM mentorship - public speaking Key Concepts intersectionality leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can you amplify under‑represented voices? - What strategies help maintain confidence? A Different Perspective Bias may still silence voices; systemic barriers persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Opinions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinions/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) ## Related quotes > [Even good opinions are worth very little unless we hold them in the broad, intelligent, and spacious way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-morley/even-good-opinions-are-worth-very-little-unless-we-hold-them-in-the/) [John Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-morley/) > [I haven't been paying attention to politics long enough to have really smart opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biz-stone/i-haven-t-been-paying-attention-to-politics-long-enough-to-have/) [Biz Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biz-stone/) > [In the sciences, the authority of thousands of opinions is not worth as much as one tiny spark of reason in an individual man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/in-the-sciences-the-authority-of-thousands-of-opinions-is-not-worth/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [Standing on the fringes of life... offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/standing-on-the-fringes-of-life-offers-a-unique-perspective-but-there/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“Sometimes perspective comes far too late. You cannot trust yourself. You think you can, but you can’t. Not because you are selfish. You cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/sometimes-perspective-comes-far-too-late-you-cannot-trust-yourself/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Oh, I will always be honest with my music. The records are black boxes for me. Like if you want to know who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/oh-i-will-always-be-honest-with-my-music-the-records-are-black-boxes/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [I do not believe that artists or actors and people should be out there like voicing their full-blown opinions on politics because, let's face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-do-not-believe-that-artists-or-actors-and-people-should-be-out/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Opinions are opinions. I don't mind being a part of one, negative or positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mya/opinions-are-opinions-i-don-t-mind-being-a-part-of-one-negative-or/) [Mya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mya/) > [How is it that labels like 'centrist' and 'moderate,' which common sense tells us should reflect the views of a majority of Americans, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/how-is-it-that-labels-like-centrist-and-moderate-which-common-sense/) [Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/) > [“When a lady does consent to listen to an argument against her own opinions, she is always predetermined to withstand it - to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/when-a-lady-does-consent-to-listen-to-an-argument-against-her-own/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [In the end, the whole Internet thing kills me, because you can use it as a positive thing or you can read into all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/in-the-end-the-whole-internet-thing-kills-me-because-you-can-use-it/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [I have my own opinions; you can have your own opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-have-my-own-opinions-you-can-have-your-own-opinions/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Of course when you voice your opinions, there are going to be negative things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/of-course-when-you-voice-your-opinions-there-are-going-to-be-negative/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [I do have opinions. Fortunately, I neither Twitter nor Facebook. My daughter forbids me to go on social media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-lipman/i-do-have-opinions-fortunately-i-neither-twitter-nor-facebook-my/) [Maureen Lipman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-lipman/) ## More by Ursula Burns > [Kids are pretty resilient. You don't have to be at every volleyball game. We can't guilt ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/kids-are-pretty-resilient-you-don-t-have-to-be-at-every-volleyball/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [I'm less concerned about whether being a good corporate citizen burnishes a company's reputation. That's just an added benefit. I believe it's a responsibility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/i-m-less-concerned-about-whether-being-a-good-corporate-citizen/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [Long time ago, people would make the Bible, right? The guy said it, somebody wrote it down. And then if you wanted another copy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/long-time-ago-people-would-make-the-bible-right-the-guy-said-it/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [The world is changing. We all know this. And as that world changes, if you don't transform your company, you're stuck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/the-world-is-changing-we-all-know-this-and-as-that-world-changes-if/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [As Ive progressed in my career, Ive come to appreciate -- and really value -- the other attributes that define a companys success beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/as-ive-progressed-in-my-career-ive-come-to-appreciate-and-really/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [I’m an advocate for change and eager to break a little glass when needed,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/i-m-an-advocate-for-change-and-eager-to-break-a-little-glass-when/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [The best way to change it is to do it, right? And then after a while you become it, and it's easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/the-best-way-to-change-it-is-to-do-it-right-and-then-after-a-while/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [My mother was pragmatic, focused and extremely, exceedingly practical, and she was the ultimate self-determining person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/my-mother-was-pragmatic-focused-and-extremely-exceedingly-practical/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [If you go to Norway, Finland, Russia or Australia, youll see Xerox or Fuji-Xerox people, not just the name on the door. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/if-you-go-to-norway-finland-russia-or-australia-youll-see-xerox-or/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [Find something that you love to do, and find a place that you really like to do it in. I found something I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/find-something-that-you-love-to-do-and-find-a-place-that-you-really/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [My mother was amazing. I guess, in our community, if you wanted to get by you had to work hard. So she cleaned offices.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/my-mother-was-amazing-i-guess-in-our-community-if-you-wanted-to-get/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [Admiration takes on a whole new level when you appreciate just how complex it is to run a modern business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/admiration-takes-on-a-whole-new-level-when-you-appreciate-just-how/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [Fresh out of college, you tend to join a company because it's a job. But, you tend to stay because it becomes a career;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/fresh-out-of-college-you-tend-to-join-a-company-because-it-s-a-job/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [I went to an all-girls Catholic high school. The three things that they focused on were reading, writing, and arithmetic. My goodness, this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/i-went-to-an-all-girls-catholic-high-school-the-three-things-that/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [Impatience is a virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/impatience-is-a-virtue/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) [Explore all 37 Ursula Burns quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) ## 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": "My perspective comes in part from being a New York black lady, in part from being an engineer. 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