--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Should I be collaborating with artists of…" description: "\"Should I be collaborating with artists of color solely because of their race and my politics? This question is weighted with my own worry that I have b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/817/vivek-shraya-14683_ability_should-i-be-collaborating-with-artists-o_1082094.jpg" --- # Should I be collaborating with artists of color solely… ![“Should I be collaborating with artists of color solely because of their race and my politics? This question is weighted with my own worry that I have been invited to speak or collaborate solely because of my race, and not because of my abilities.” quote by Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/817/vivek-shraya-14683_ability_should-i-be-collaborating-with-artists-o_1082094.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/817/vivek-shraya-14683_ability_should-i-be-collaborating-with-artists-o_1082094.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/817/vivek-shraya-14683_ability_should-i-be-collaborating-with-artists-o_1082094.jpg) > “Should I be collaborating with artists of color solely because of their race and my politics? This question is weighted with my own worry that I have been invited to speak or collaborate solely because of my race, and not because of my abilities.” [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Collaborating solely based on race risks tokenism; true partnership should consider skill, intent, and mutual respect beyond identity. **In simple terms:** Avoid tokenism; value ability and respect. Key Takeaway Seek collaborations grounded in shared goals and respect. Themes ethics identity collaboration Mood critical empathetic Type ethical reflective When to use this quote - art projects - academic panels - community events Key Concepts social justice authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What criteria beyond race guide your collaborations? - How can you ensure mutual respect? A Different Perspective Identity alone may not guarantee genuine creative exchange. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [I think white artists have a responsibility to be not only naming white supremacy, but to be using their power and privilege to support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/i-think-white-artists-have-a-responsibility-to-be-not-only-naming/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) > [The fact that we don't' talk about it, that we don't have a politics in which this question of war and peace can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-loury/the-fact-that-we-don-t-talk-about-it-that-we-don-t-have-a-politics-in/) [Glenn Loury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-loury/) > [It's always great to have an enemy in politics; there's no question about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pfeiffer/it-s-always-great-to-have-an-enemy-in-politics-there-s-no-question/) [Daniel Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pfeiffer/) > [The industry has always been accepting of gay artists, but a particular thing for me is to see gay artists of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/the-industry-has-always-been-accepting-of-gay-artists-but-a/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [In the industry, artists of of color struggle the most. Caucasian artists have really solidified themselves in the industry, and with African Americans now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mena-massoud/in-the-industry-artists-of-of-color-struggle-the-most-caucasian/) [Mena Massoud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mena-massoud/) > [Artists can color the sky red because they know it's blue. Those of us who aren't artists must color things the way they really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-feiffer/artists-can-color-the-sky-red-because-they-know-it-s-blue-those-of-us/) [Jules Feiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-feiffer/) > [I am more likely to get paid for my art if it's presented alongside a white artist, so the questions around value and agency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/i-am-more-likely-to-get-paid-for-my-art-if-it-s-presented-alongside-a/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) > [I knew that collaborating on songwriting would be difficult for a lot of people, because I was known very much, for my independence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-phair/i-knew-that-collaborating-on-songwriting-would-be-difficult-for-a-lot/) [Liz Phair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-phair/) > [Every director is different. One of the great things about getting to work with so many directors in one TV series is collaborating with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-willimon/every-director-is-different-one-of-the-great-things-about-getting-to/) [Beau Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-willimon/) > [It's as if I were collaborating with myself, revealing my relationship to the material. My hand would make the drawing. Then my mouth would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hodges/it-s-as-if-i-were-collaborating-with-myself-revealing-my-relationship/) [Jim Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hodges/) > [I was writing music when we finished the last Walkmen record, Heaven, and a few of these songs may have even been started before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/i-was-writing-music-when-we-finished-the-last-walkmen-record-heaven/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [I'm always interested in collaborating with designers. I love Gaultier. I know that's kind of a high hope!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-love/i-m-always-interested-in-collaborating-with-designers-i-love-gaultier/) [Pamela Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-love/) > [I love the process of collaborating on music, mostly for the creativity that comes out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/i-love-the-process-of-collaborating-on-music-mostly-for-the/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [The director is the ultimate creative arbiter of what's going to happen. And as a director myself, you really appreciate collaborating with people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-coppola/the-director-is-the-ultimate-creative-arbiter-of-what-s-going-to/) [Roman Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-coppola/) > [The best part of making music, for me, is collaborating and working with new people and fresh sounds and all those things that get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-carey/the-best-part-of-making-music-for-me-is-collaborating-and-working/) [Mariah Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariah-carey/) ## More by Vivek Shraya > [I am more likely to get paid for my art if it's presented alongside a white artist, so the questions around value and agency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/i-am-more-likely-to-get-paid-for-my-art-if-it-s-presented-alongside-a/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) > [I used singing as a safety measure. I would pay attention to what songs the popular girls liked, learn those songs from the radio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/i-used-singing-as-a-safety-measure-i-would-pay-attention-to-what/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) > [My intention was never to write a "trans novel" - which is perhaps an effective strategy for writing a trans novel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/my-intention-was-never-to-write-a-trans-novel-which-is-perhaps-an/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) > [I especially worry about the ways Canadians can be glib about our supposed difference from the US in our "acceptance" of "diversity."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/i-especially-worry-about-the-ways-canadians-can-be-glib-about-our/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) > [My art career often feels less like an art career and more like a career in educating, usually by using my body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/my-art-career-often-feels-less-like-an-art-career-and-more-like-a/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) > [Children's books have great potential to reveal new possibilities to readers, because the intended audience is at an age of genuine learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/children-s-books-have-great-potential-to-reveal-new-possibilities-to/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) > [I continue to explore poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/i-continue-to-explore-poetry/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) > [I tend to focus less on genre as a starting point and more on idea or intention and let the idea dictate genre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/i-tend-to-focus-less-on-genre-as-a-starting-point-and-more-on-idea-or/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) > [Despite the fact that I'm not highly skilled in any visual art, aesthetics have always played a strong role in my art, including my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/despite-the-fact-that-i-m-not-highly-skilled-in-any-visual-art/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) > [As a person of color, I know race can't be stripped from admiration or preference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/as-a-person-of-color-i-know-race-can-t-be-stripped-from-admiration-or/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) > [It's exciting to consider how art, in its ability to reveal, can be ahead of the artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/it-s-exciting-to-consider-how-art-in-its-ability-to-reveal-can-be/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) > [In my thirties, I have felt a greater urgency to make art that highlights what it feels like to be racialized, likely due to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/in-my-thirties-i-have-felt-a-greater-urgency-to-make-art-that/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) > [I think white artists have a responsibility to be not only naming white supremacy, but to be using their power and privilege to support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/i-think-white-artists-have-a-responsibility-to-be-not-only-naming/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) > [Writing about racism requires a directness that writing a love story does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/writing-about-racism-requires-a-directness-that-writing-a-love-story/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) > [When I was writing, I wanted every word to be not only deliberate, but musical. Precious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/when-i-was-writing-i-wanted-every-word-to-be-not-only-deliberate-but/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) [Explore all 45 Vivek Shraya quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Should I be collaborating with artists of color solely because of their race and my politics? 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