---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was a kid, it was very common to…"
description: "\"When I was a kid, it was very common to go places and get racially abused, starting from age six all the way up until you got into the first team.\" — V..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/vincent-kompany-6926_abused_when-i-was-a-kid-it-was-very-common-to-g_380387.jpg"
---

#  When I was a kid, it was very common to go places and get…

![“When I was a kid, it was very common to go places and get racially abused, starting from age six all the way up until you got into the first team.” quote by Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/vincent-kompany-6926_abused_when-i-was-a-kid-it-was-very-common-to-g_380387.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/vincent-kompany-6926_abused_when-i-was-a-kid-it-was-very-common-to-g_380387.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/vincent-kompany-6926_abused_when-i-was-a-kid-it-was-very-common-to-g_380387.jpg)

> “When I was a kid, it was very common to go places and get racially abused, starting from age six all the way up until you got into the first team.”

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Experiencing racism from childhood through early sports career shaped his perspective on discrimination and resilience.

**In simple terms:** Racism affected him from a young age in sports.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and confront early bias.

Themes

racism sports identity resilience

Mood

determined reflective

Type

personal motivational

When to use this quote

- youth sports
- team selection
- community outreach
- anti‑racism campaigns

Key Concepts

social injustice personal growth

Questions to Reflect On

- How did early abuse influence his leadership?
- What can teams do to protect young athletes?

A Different Perspective

Racism can be systemic, making change difficult.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/)

## Related quotes

> [I have been racially abused by fans and players, but sometimes it's just a way to get under your skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/i-have-been-racially-abused-by-fans-and-players-but-sometimes-it-s/)

[Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/)

> [I was 11 years old and was racially abused on the pitch. It was obviously disappointing to hear it at such a young age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-was-11-years-old-and-was-racially-abused-on-the-pitch-it-was/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

> [I'm numb to it now. If I'm racially abused out there, I'm abused. Nothing is going to change. I just get on with it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-rose/i-m-numb-to-it-now-if-i-m-racially-abused-out-there-i-m-abused/)

[Danny Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-rose/)

> [In Lithuania they had racially abused me, in Poland they hadn't paid me, and I thought: 'I don't need this.' I said to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/in-lithuania-they-had-racially-abused-me-in-poland-they-hadn-t-paid/)

[Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/)

> [You can get racially abused 10 times before you even reach the football stadium. If you've been confronted every day with something like that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/you-can-get-racially-abused-10-times-before-you-even-reach-the/)

[Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/)

> [Starting at age four, my mom decided that she was not going to have an idle child in the house. So I started taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chandra-wilson/starting-at-age-four-my-mom-decided-that-she-was-not-going-to-have-an/)

[Chandra Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chandra-wilson/)

> [I have been an athlete for much of my life starting at the age of 4.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-rhodes/i-have-been-an-athlete-for-much-of-my-life-starting-at-the-age-of-4/)

[Brandi Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-rhodes/)

> [“The heritability estimate of general intelligence was 26% at age 5, 39% at age 7, 54% at age 10, 64% at age 12, and starting at age 18 the estimate grew to over 80%.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-haier/the-heritability-estimate-of-general-intelligence-was-26-at-age-5-39/)

Richard J Haier

> [I started to become internationally successful starting at the age of 9.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judit-polgar/i-started-to-become-internationally-successful-starting-at-the-age-of/)

[Judit Polgar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judit-polgar/)

> [I was in martial arts starting at the age of 14, and I got my black belt by the time I was 18. Soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-d-smith/i-was-in-martial-arts-starting-at-the-age-of-14-and-i-got-my-black/)

[Brad D. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-d-smith/)

> [I got into lots of fights at school: I'd get racially abused, then lash out. One day, this kid said something and instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/i-got-into-lots-of-fights-at-school-i-d-get-racially-abused-then-lash/)

[Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/)

> [The racism I am really interested in stamping out is in everyday life. Joe Bloggs, who nobody knows, walks down the street and gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/the-racism-i-am-really-interested-in-stamping-out-is-in-everyday-life/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [I am doing my job and trying to win a game for my team. I shouldn't be getting racially abused; it's silly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermain-defoe/i-am-doing-my-job-and-trying-to-win-a-game-for-my-team-i-shouldn-t-be/)

[Jermain Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermain-defoe/)

> [“Too many cases thrown out of court, too much pop-psycho crap, satanic bullshit... if you FEEL you've been abused, you HAVE been!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kellerman/too-many-cases-thrown-out-of-court-too-much-pop-psycho-crap-satanic/)

[Jonathan Kellerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kellerman/)

> [One of the most abused country on earth is Mexico. The marketing spills over the border, and people are persuaded to eat food that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-patel/one-of-the-most-abused-country-on-earth-is-mexico-the-marketing/)

[Raj Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-patel/)

## More by Vincent Kompany

> [I want my kids to go and see the world and understand they are privileged, but it doesn't mean they don't have the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/i-want-my-kids-to-go-and-see-the-world-and-understand-they-are/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

> [Over the past decade, I've been lucky to have witnessed and played a part in Manchester City's rise as a club and a brand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/over-the-past-decade-i-ve-been-lucky-to-have-witnessed-and-played-a/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

> [I would say Pep Guardiola's No. 1 quality is that he sees the technical and tactical aspect of a game really fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/i-would-say-pep-guardiola-s-no-1-quality-is-that-he-sees-the/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

> [As wealthy as you are, nothing, nothing, nothing guarantees you that through a breakdown of relationship, your kids won't end up on the streets.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/as-wealthy-as-you-are-nothing-nothing-nothing-guarantees-you-that/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

> [I think people generally have a good heart and the intention to help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/i-think-people-generally-have-a-good-heart-and-the-intention-to-help/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

> [Sir Alex, one of the best managers of all time. After 26 years of success in the game, we all owe him a tribute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/sir-alex-one-of-the-best-managers-of-all-time-after-26-years-of/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

> [I want to be involved as a fan, as a player, as a manager, as a technical director, as a groundsman. It doesn't matter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/i-want-to-be-involved-as-a-fan-as-a-player-as-a-manager-as-a/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

> [I never thought I could enjoy all this wealth without putting it to good use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/i-never-thought-i-could-enjoy-all-this-wealth-without-putting-it-to/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

> [Ultimately if you can win playing a certain way, then why not do it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/ultimately-if-you-can-win-playing-a-certain-way-then-why-not-do-it/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

> [It doesn't take a lot to imagine what City means to me: it's been my life for the last almost ten years now. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/it-doesn-t-take-a-lot-to-imagine-what-city-means-to-me-it-s-been-my/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

> [I kind of almost get enjoyment out of adversity in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/i-kind-of-almost-get-enjoyment-out-of-adversity-in-life/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

> [I love the derby because of the banter and rivalry. If you live outside of Manchester, you can take it out of context sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/i-love-the-derby-because-of-the-banter-and-rivalry-if-you-live/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

> [I don't think you can underestimate the impact of the gaffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/i-don-t-think-you-can-underestimate-the-impact-of-the-gaffer/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

> [When I was coming through, I had very little support from the older players. I always said to myself that if I make it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/when-i-was-coming-through-i-had-very-little-support-from-the-older/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

> [Racism is felt the most definitely in grassroots football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/racism-is-felt-the-most-definitely-in-grassroots-football/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

[Explore all 96 Vincent Kompany quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

## More Abused quotes

> [One of the most abused country on earth is Mexico. The marketing spills over the border, and people are persuaded to eat food that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-patel/one-of-the-most-abused-country-on-earth-is-mexico-the-marketing/)

[Raj Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-patel/)

> [“Too many cases thrown out of court, too much pop-psycho crap, satanic bullshit... if you FEEL you've been abused, you HAVE been!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kellerman/too-many-cases-thrown-out-of-court-too-much-pop-psycho-crap-satanic/)

[Jonathan Kellerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kellerman/)

> [“Rather than being incensed by the nature of the bruise, maybe we should be inspired by the possibilities in the bruise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/rather-than-being-incensed-by-the-nature-of-the-bruise-maybe-we/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [“I used to teach at an abused children's home. I told the kids, "You all have a manure pile of memories. Nothing you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-o-donnell/i-used-to-teach-at-an-abused-children-s-home-i-told-the-kids-you-all/)

[Rebecca O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-o-donnell/)

> [Early on in my life, I had a broken soul. I was abused by my father, abandoned by my mother and ended up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/early-on-in-my-life-i-had-a-broken-soul-i-was-abused-by-my-father/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

> [“I'm 80% done with The Darker Side of Trey : "It was a pitiful truth. That people seemed unwilling to see the abused, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-spears/i-m-80-done-with-the-darker-side-of-trey-it-was-a-pitiful-truth-that/)

Tara Spears

> [Praise makes me humble, but when I am abused, I know that I have touched the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyles-brandreth/praise-makes-me-humble-but-when-i-am-abused-i-know-that-i-have/)

[Gyles Brandreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyles-brandreth/)

> [I’ve abused myself a lot over the years. But my voice is still intact – really, it’s better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-cliff/i-ve-abused-myself-a-lot-over-the-years-but-my-voice-is-still-intact/)

[Jimmy Cliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-cliff/)

> [I've been chased. I've been pushed. I've been screamed at. I've been verbally abused. I've been afraid for my safety. But I did it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/i-ve-been-chased-i-ve-been-pushed-i-ve-been-screamed-at-i-ve-been/)

[Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/)

> [“The book is open, spine cracked, abused in a way no one with respect for paper should ever do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-swyler/the-book-is-open-spine-cracked-abused-in-a-way-no-one-with-respect/)

[Erika Swyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-swyler/)

> [I ask my friend -what is your story?- because I want to give the answer of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ask-my-friend-what-is-your-story-because-i-want-to-give-the-answer/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Some people have never been loved, they've only been disrespected, used, cheated on, abused and hurt that's why they don't trust anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/some-people-have-never-been-loved-they-ve-only-been-disrespected-used/)

[SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/)

> [The term 'doctor' has been so abused lately! I didn't live in a hospital for 10 years so that term could be bastardized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-pinsky/the-term-doctor-has-been-so-abused-lately-i-didn-t-live-in-a-hospital/)

[Drew Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-pinsky/)

> [“Abuse ambushed my life, I could not love myself truly and could never have a healthy relationship, they were either abused or completely impaired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/abuse-ambushed-my-life-i-could-not-love-myself-truly-and-could-never/)

[Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/)

> [Books are the best of things, well used; abused, among the worst...They are for nothing but to inspire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/books-are-the-best-of-things-well-used-abused-among-the-worst-they/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

Browse all 293 Abused quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I was a kid, it was very common to go places and get racially abused, starting from age six all the way up until you got into the first team.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Vincent Kompany"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/when-i-was-a-kid-it-was-very-common-to-go-places-and-get-racially/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Abused"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/when-i-was-a-kid-it-was-very-common-to-go-places-and-get-racially/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/vincent-kompany-6926_abused_when-i-was-a-kid-it-was-very-common-to-g_380387.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/vincent-kompany-6926_abused_when-i-was-a-kid-it-was-very-common-to-g_380387.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/vincent-kompany-6926_abused_when-i-was-a-kid-it-was-very-common-to-g_380387.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I was a kid, it was very common to go places and get racially abused, starting from age six all the way…” — Vincent Kompany",
                "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": "Vincent Kompany",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I was a kid, it...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/when-i-was-a-kid-it-was-very-common-to-go-places-and-get-racially/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/when-i-was-a-kid-it-was-very-common-to-go-places-and-get-racially/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
