---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Black women . . . work because their…"
description: "\"Black women . . . work because their husbands can't make enough money at their jobs to keep everything going. . . . They don't go to work to find fulfi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/425/wilma-rudolph-14112_adventure_black-women-work-because-their-husbands_3021478.png"
---

#  Black women . . . work because their husbands can't make…

![“Black women . . . work because their husbands can't make enough money at their jobs to keep everything going. . . . They don't go to work to find fulfillment, or adventure, or glamour and romance, like so many white women think they are doing. Black women work out of necessity.” quote by Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/425/wilma-rudolph-14112_adventure_black-women-work-because-their-husbands_3021478.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/425/wilma-rudolph-14112_adventure_black-women-work-because-their-husbands_3021478.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/425/wilma-rudolph-14112_adventure_black-women-work-because-their-husbands_3021478.png)

> “Black women . . . work because their husbands can't make enough money at their jobs to keep everything going. . . . They don't go to work to find fulfillment, or adventure, or glamour and romance, like so many white women think they are doing. Black women work out of necessity.”

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

## About This Quote

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

Black women work out of economic necessity, not for personal fulfillment.

**In simple terms:** They work because they need to.

Key Takeaway

Recognize systemic inequities affecting labor.

Themes

race economics gender

Mood

critical empathetic

Type

sociological analytical

When to use this quote

- Job market
- family budgeting
- career planning

Key Concepts

Structural oppression survival strategies

Questions to Reflect On

- How does necessity shape your career?
- What changes could reduce this pressure?

A Different Perspective

Economic pressures can limit personal choice.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Black women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-women/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/)

## Related quotes

> [Work is a necessity for man. Man invented the alarm clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/work-is-a-necessity-for-man-man-invented-the-alarm-clock/)

[Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/)

> [The greatest antidote in the world for grief is work, and the necessity of work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bess-streeter-aldrich/the-greatest-antidote-in-the-world-for-grief-is-work-and-the/)

[Bess Streeter Aldrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bess-streeter-aldrich/)

> [Work is as much a necessity to man as eating and sleeping. Even those who do nothing that can be called work still imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/work-is-as-much-a-necessity-to-man-as-eating-and-sleeping-even-those/)

[Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/)

> [True Work is the necessity of poor humanity's earthly condition. The dignity is in leisure. Besides, 99 hundredths of all the work done in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/true-work-is-the-necessity-of-poor-humanity-s-earthly-condition-the/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [“Hard work is a necessity of today in order to live a great life tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paras-soni/hard-work-is-a-necessity-of-today-in-order-to-live-a-great-life/)

Paras Soni

> [As far as I knew white women were never lonely, except in books. White men adored them, Black men desired them and Black women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/as-far-as-i-knew-white-women-were-never-lonely-except-in-books-white/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [“The women work because the white folks give them jobs—washing dishes and clothes and floors and windows. The women work because for years now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-petry/the-women-work-because-the-white-folks-give-them-jobs-washing-dishes/)

[Ann Petry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-petry/)

> [I know black women in Tennessee who have worked all their lives, from the time they were twelve years old to the day they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/i-know-black-women-in-tennessee-who-have-worked-all-their-lives-from/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [The potential for greatness lives within us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/the-potential-for-greatness-lives-within-us-all/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [Women are more than 50% of almost every country in the world. Countries rob themselves of the resources of women if they keep them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/women-are-more-than-50-of-almost-every-country-in-the-world-countries/)

[Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/)

> [The implication that women work for pin money and can manage on a worse pension, presumably by relying on husbands, riles. But even more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-o-grady/the-implication-that-women-work-for-pin-money-and-can-manage-on-a/)

[Frances O'Grady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-o-grady/)

> [I think most women these days can understand me juggling a career with being a mom because most of us do. I think I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bello/i-think-most-women-these-days-can-understand-me-juggling-a-career/)

[Maria Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bello/)

> [There are so many problems. Women can go to work on these as well without giving up their feminism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/there-are-so-many-problems-women-can-go-to-work-on-these-as-well/)

[Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/)

> [It's not enough just to treat women well. We have to work to make sure all men treat women well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/it-s-not-enough-just-to-treat-women-well-we-have-to-work-to-make-sure/)

[Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/)

> [One of the reasons I wanted to start a company is because I wanted an environment that I wanted to work in. I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tory-burch/one-of-the-reasons-i-wanted-to-start-a-company-is-because-i-wanted-an/)

[Tory Burch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tory-burch/)

## More by Wilma Rudolph

> [I knew that whatever I set my mind to do. I could do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/i-knew-that-whatever-i-set-my-mind-to-do-i-could-do/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [Sometimes it takes years to really grasp what has happened to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/sometimes-it-takes-years-to-really-grasp-what-has-happened-to-your/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [I know black women in Tennessee who have worked all their lives, from the time they were twelve years old to the day they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/i-know-black-women-in-tennessee-who-have-worked-all-their-lives-from/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [No matter what great things you accomplish, somebody helps you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/no-matter-what-great-things-you-accomplish-somebody-helps-you/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [After the scarlet fever and the whooping cough, I remember I started to get mad about it all... I went through the stage of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/after-the-scarlet-fever-and-the-whooping-cough-i-remember-i-started/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [“Winning is great but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/winning-is-great-but-if-you-are-really-going-to-do-something-in-life/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [I don't consciously try to be a role model, so I don't know if I am or not. That's for other people to decide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/i-don-t-consciously-try-to-be-a-role-model-so-i-don-t-know-if-i-am-or/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [Later on in life, I discovered that in order for me to be successful, I had to have a challenge. I can't do a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/later-on-in-life-i-discovered-that-in-order-for-me-to-be-successful-i/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [I thought I'd never get to see that. Florence Griffith Joyner -- every time she ran, I ran.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/i-thought-i-d-never-get-to-see-that-florence-griffith-joyner-every/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [Believe me, the reward is not so great without the struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/believe-me-the-reward-is-not-so-great-without-the-struggle/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [When the sun is shining I can do anything; no mountain is too high, no trouble too difficult to overcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/when-the-sun-is-shining-i-can-do-anything-no-mountain-is-too-high-no/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [I was six years old before I realized that there was something wrong with me... But I did have this crooked left leg, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/i-was-six-years-old-before-i-realized-that-there-was-something-wrong/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [The triumph can't be had without the struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/the-triumph-can-t-be-had-without-the-struggle/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [The potential for greatness lives within each of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/the-potential-for-greatness-lives-within-each-of-us/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [In college, I was an education major and qualified for several jobs. But the fame that came with the Olympic medals was too threatening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/in-college-i-was-an-education-major-and-qualified-for-several-jobs/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

[Explore all 48 Wilma Rudolph quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

## More Adventure quotes

> [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/)

[Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/)

> [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/)

[Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/)

> [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/)

[Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/)

> [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/)

[Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/)

> [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/)

Jessica Yu

> [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/)

Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless

> [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/)

[Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/)

> [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/)

[Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/)

> [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/)

Kevin McLeod

> [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/)

[John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/)

> [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/)

[D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/)

> [I am not an adventurous person but I am gutsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-am-not-an-adventurous-person-but-i-am-gutsy/)

[Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/)

> [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

[Browse all 7,690 Adventure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Black women . . . work because their husbands can't make enough money at their jobs to keep everything going. . . . They don't go to work to find fulfillment, or adventure, or glamour and romance, like so many white women think they are doing. Black women work out of necessity.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Wilma Rudolph"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/black-women-work-because-their-husbands-can-t-make-enough-money-at/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Adventure"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/black-women-work-because-their-husbands-can-t-make-enough-money-at/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/425/wilma-rudolph-14112_adventure_black-women-work-because-their-husbands_3021478.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/425/wilma-rudolph-14112_adventure_black-women-work-because-their-husbands_3021478.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/425/wilma-rudolph-14112_adventure_black-women-work-because-their-husbands_3021478.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Black women . . . work because their husbands can't make enough money at their jobs to keep everything…” — Wilma Rudolph",
                "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": "Wilma Rudolph",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Black women . . . work...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/black-women-work-because-their-husbands-can-t-make-enough-money-at/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/black-women-work-because-their-husbands-can-t-make-enough-money-at/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
