--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a tendency to want to treat…" description: "\"There is a tendency to want to treat blacks as a monolithic socioeconomic group.\" — William Julius Wilson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/william-julius-wilson-23478_blacks_there-is-a-tendency-to-want-to-treat-bla_2718595.png" --- # There is a tendency to want to treat blacks as a… ![“There is a tendency to want to treat blacks as a monolithic socioeconomic group.” quote by William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/william-julius-wilson-23478_blacks_there-is-a-tendency-to-want-to-treat-bla_2718595.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/william-julius-wilson-23478_blacks_there-is-a-tendency-to-want-to-treat-bla_2718595.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/william-julius-wilson-23478_blacks_there-is-a-tendency-to-want-to-treat-bla_2718595.png) > “There is a tendency to want to treat blacks as a monolithic socioeconomic group.” [William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often mistakenly view Black communities as a single economic group, ignoring diversity. **In simple terms:** Blacks are not a monolith. Key Takeaway Recognize intra‑group diversity. Themes race socioeconomics stereotype Mood analytical critical Type sociology policy When to use this quote - policy design - community outreach - academic research Key Concepts Intersectionality economic variation Questions to Reflect On - How does grouping affect policy? - What data reveal internal diversity? A Different Perspective May oversimplify other dimensions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blacks/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [We are viewed by the world as a quasi-racist state in which we allow natural disasters to obliterate our minority community, in which our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/we-are-viewed-by-the-world-as-a-quasi-racist-state-in-which-we-allow/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [Black professors make more than white professors. That's because we are in demand. I'll tell you, give me two blacks in institutions of higher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/black-professors-make-more-than-white-professors-that-s-because-we/) [William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) > [During the Great Depression, African Americans were faced with problems that were not unlike those experienced by the most disadvantaged groups in society. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/during-the-great-depression-african-americans-were-faced-with/) [William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) > [There is a tendency for things to right themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-a-tendency-for-things-to-right-themselves/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [We pass for what we are. Character teaches above our wills. Men imagine that they communicate thier virtue or vice by overt actions, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-pass-for-what-we-are-character-teaches-above-our-wills-men-imagine/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I actually have a weird tendency to say things to people that they were just about to say. I always freak my best friend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-lee-smith/i-actually-have-a-weird-tendency-to-say-things-to-people-that-they/) [Lauren Lee Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-lee-smith/) > [It's tricky, performing the show live. Because when you're in a big auditorium, in front of 700 people, the natural tendency is to want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/it-s-tricky-performing-the-show-live-because-when-you-re-in-a-big/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [My short stature may have something to do with my tendency to shout when enraged. How else is anyone going to hear me way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/my-short-stature-may-have-something-to-do-with-my-tendency-to-shout/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [I have a terrible tendency to lick my fingers when I cook. 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The tendency in men toward risky behaviour keeps turning up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/high-testosterone-levels-have-been-proven-to-make-men-more-likely-to/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [No government can be strong and flourishing while the national character is weak and degraded. A government must flourish and decay with its subjects;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-robbins-curtis/no-government-can-be-strong-and-flourishing-while-the-national/) [Benjamin Robbins Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-robbins-curtis/) > [Nonresidents have a tendency to rush their visits to Harlem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-gondelman/nonresidents-have-a-tendency-to-rush-their-visits-to-harlem/) [Josh Gondelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-gondelman/) > [Pettiness is the tendency of people without large purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/pettiness-is-the-tendency-of-people-without-large-purposes/) [George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/) ## More by William Julius Wilson > [My research clearly reveals that if we want to put inner-city workers to work immediately, we just can't rely on the private sector. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/my-research-clearly-reveals-that-if-we-want-to-put-inner-city-workers/) [William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) > [If you're talking about the narrow issue of public assistance, I would like to see us move to a more healthy system. But until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/if-you-re-talking-about-the-narrow-issue-of-public-assistance-i-would/) [William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) > [The middle class has just fallen further and further behind the rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/the-middle-class-has-just-fallen-further-and-further-behind-the-rich/) [William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) > [If you're going to compare a middle-income black kid with a middle- income white kid, and, say, you control for family background, family education,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/if-you-re-going-to-compare-a-middle-income-black-kid-with-a-middle/) [William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) > [Prior to 1940, the affluent and the middle class began to converge, but after 1979, the economic gap between the middle class and affluent widened significantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/prior-to-1940-the-affluent-and-the-middle-class-began-to-converge-but/) [William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) > [But the person who scored well on an SAT will not necessarily be the best doctor or the best lawyer or the best businessman.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/but-the-person-who-scored-well-on-an-sat-will-not-necessarily-be-the/) [William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) > [Black employers are just as negative as the white employers concerning inner-city workers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/black-employers-are-just-as-negative-as-the-white-employers/) [William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) > [I think it is difficult to achieve a meaningful political coalition if you have race-based programs that divide members of the coalition. 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People have not been drawn into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/a-lot-of-joblessness-in-the-black-community-doesn-t-seem-to-be/) [William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) > [I don't think we should stop emphasizing race because I think, you know, race is still very, very important, and we have to recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/i-don-t-think-we-should-stop-emphasizing-race-because-i-think-you/) [William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) > [During the Great Depression, African Americans were faced with problems that were not unlike those experienced by the most disadvantaged groups in society. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/during-the-great-depression-african-americans-were-faced-with/) [William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) > [A lot of joblessness in the black community doesn't seem to be reachable through fiscal and monetary policies. People have not been drawn into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/a-lot-of-joblessness-in-the-black-community-doesn-t-seem-to-be-2/) [William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) > [Certain people are just saying, 'Look, I'm a businessperson and I have to run a business effectively and I want people who are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/certain-people-are-just-saying-look-i-m-a-businessperson-and-i-have/) [William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) > [The worst thing we could do is impose time limits and then expect people to sink or swim once they move off welfare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/the-worst-thing-we-could-do-is-impose-time-limits-and-then-expect/) [William Julius Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) [Explore all 26 William Julius Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/) ## More Blacks quotes > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [“The black officer checks Daddy while his partner glances around at all of the onlookers. There's quite a few of us now. Ms. Yvette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/the-black-officer-checks-daddy-while-his-partner-glances-around-at/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [I disagree with the prevailing point of view of some black leaders that special treatment for blacks is acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-disagree-with-the-prevailing-point-of-view-of-some-black-leaders/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [When blacks become humanly visible, when their true beliefs are known, their mask shatters and their symbiotic bond with whites is broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-steele/when-blacks-become-humanly-visible-when-their-true-beliefs-are-known/) [Shelby Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-steele/) > [Blacks abandoned morals, fathers, and real belief in God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/blacks-abandoned-morals-fathers-and-real-belief-in-god/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [Most blacks will argue that they excel because of hard work, because of intellect, determination, sweat, blood, tears and risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/most-blacks-will-argue-that-they-excel-because-of-hard-work-because/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Well, many Blacks who are vegan are vegan for health reasons. They believe in putting the right food in their bodies. And they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-adams/well-many-blacks-who-are-vegan-are-vegan-for-health-reasons-they/) [Eric Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-adams/) > [Happy Black History Month everyone. I challenge you blacks to change how other races view us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happy-black-history-month-everyone-i-challenge-you-blacks-to-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What you want, a Bentley? Fur coat? A diamond chain? All you blacks want all the same things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/what-you-want-a-bentley-fur-coat-a-diamond-chain-all-you-blacks-want/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [“In the context of the Negro problem neither whites nor blacks, for excellent reasons of their own, have the faintest desire to look back;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-the-context-of-the-negro-problem-neither-whites-nor-blacks-for/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [“In America the magazines in which one can frequently publish stories or poems about Negroes are very few, and most of these do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/in-america-the-magazines-in-which-one-can-frequently-publish-stories/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [“Since neither black animosity nor the Left’s falsehood of “racial tensions” is based on the actual behavior of the vast majority of white Americans,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/since-neither-black-animosity-nor-the-left-s-falsehood-of-racial/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [The poor are the blacks of Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/the-poor-are-the-blacks-of-europe/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) [Browse all 286 Blacks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blacks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is a tendency to want to treat blacks as a monolithic socioeconomic group.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Julius Wilson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/there-is-a-tendency-to-want-to-treat-blacks-as-a-monolithic/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blacks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/there-is-a-tendency-to-want-to-treat-blacks-as-a-monolithic/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/william-julius-wilson-23478_blacks_there-is-a-tendency-to-want-to-treat-bla_2718595.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/william-julius-wilson-23478_blacks_there-is-a-tendency-to-want-to-treat-bla_2718595.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/william-julius-wilson-23478_blacks_there-is-a-tendency-to-want-to-treat-bla_2718595.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is a tendency to want to treat blacks as a monolithic socioeconomic group.” — William Julius Wilson", "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": "William Julius Wilson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-julius-wilson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is a tendency to want...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/there-is-a-tendency-to-want-to-treat-blacks-as-a-monolithic/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-julius-wilson/there-is-a-tendency-to-want-to-treat-blacks-as-a-monolithic/#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 } } ] } ```