Top 100 Because I'm Black Quotes
#1. Am I R&B because I'm black? Am I pop because I have a song called 'Milkshake'? Or can I just be who the hell I am? Good Lord, people make it seem like we're doing heart transplants here, but we're just making music!
Kelis
#2. I know that I'm talented, and I know that I'm not in American Ballet Theater because I'm black - I'm here because I'm a gifted dancer.
Misty Copeland
#3. When people meet me in person, they're usually surprised at how petite I am because there's this idea that because I'm black, I just look a certain way.
Misty Copeland
#4. I really feel a sense of responsibility first as a creation of a force that I call God, that's bigger than myself. And because I'm black, I feel the responsibility to that. I feel the responsibility to my womanness. But more importantly, I feel a responsibility to my humanness.
Oprah Winfrey
#5. Because I'm black?" I straight out ask, hating that being different can be a code word for being black, for something that isn't white. "No" - he
Sona Charaipotra
#6. All critics have the responsibility to tease out the social ideas and social problems in a movie. I don't feel an obligation to do that because I'm black.
Wesley Morris
#7. I will not sit in a room with black people when the N word is used. I know it was meant to belittle a person, so I will not sit there and have that poison put on me. Now a black person can say, 'Oh, you know, I can use this word because I'm black.'
Maya Angelou
#8. I got arrested for playing chess in the street. I said, it's because I'm black, isn't it.
Milton Jones
#9. People just decided I was an R&B artist because I'm black.
Gallant
#10. This whole notion that all African-Americans are not going to vote for Obama is not necessarily true. I believe a third would vote for me, based on my own anecdotal feedback. Not vote for me because I'm black but because of my policies.
Herman Cain
#11. There are so many people who have this idea of who I am because I'm black.
Clarence Thomas
#12. Tyra's always standing up for herself and her "race" over perceived slights. For example, she'll say, "You just pushed me because I'm black!" No, I pushed you because the train was coming right at you, you bulimic twit.
Joan Rivers
#13. You have to assess every situation that you're in and you have to decide, is this happening because I'm black? Is this happening because I'm a woman? Or is this happening because this is how it happens?
Charlayne Hunter-Gault
#14. People only say I'm angry because I'm black and I'm a woman. But all sorts of people write with strong feeling, the way I do.
Jamaica Kincaid
#15. It was rough being dark. I got heat from my own people more than anyone else. I remember going to my mom and saying, 'Why am I so black?' And she said, 'Because I'm black. You just gotta always work harder than the average bear.'
Bernie Mac
#16. In films, I didn't crave the type of attention I had sort of stumbled into in my music career. And I do not audition well. I'm really not good at it. Early on, I did movies like 'Alpha Dog' and 'Black Snake Moan' because the directors didn't ask me to audition.
Justin Timberlake
#17. I'm black because that's the way the world sees me.
Paula Patton
#18. I have no problem dressing up ... because I know I'm a nice-looking guy. But as far as chains, I definitely feel that's a racial statement. Almost 100% of the guys in the league who are young and black wear big chains. So I definitely don't agree with that at all.
Stephen Jackson
#19. I mean, the unfair treatment of women and black people and Indians and other groups, that's real. Mistreatment of other people because 'I'm better than you are' is such a sad part of the world.
Melissa Leo
#20. It's Sunday night," he continues. "You aren't at Pizza Pellino."
"No, I'm at the Treehouse with Hattie." And then I'm so dizzy my vision goes black. "How ... how did you know that I'm not there?"
"Because I'm here.
Stephanie Perkins
#21. Sometimes I even feel funny to say I'm in a biracial marriage because people are like, 'Oh, he's Asian?' The subtext is, 'Who cares? You didn't marry a black person.'
Diane Farr
#22. I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once. Where we lived was all farmers. The blacks worked for the farmers. I hoed cotton with them. I'm with the blacks, because we're white trash.
Phil Robertson
#23. I have the most eclectic audience - I've got gay, I've got straight, black, white, rich, poor, young, old, in 45 countries. And they don't all come because I'm the Sinatra kid, though that's a big part of it. My biggest successes have come from pop songs that I write myself.
Michael Buble
#24. If you remove Al Sharpton's blackness, he disappears. He's transparent. There's nothing there because he bases his whole life on his blackness. Me, I'm a black man; but my blackness has submission to my Christianity.
Ken Hutcherson
#25. I'm not ideological. I think sometimes when people are ideological, the world's a lot easier. Because it falls into either right or wrong, or black or white, or whatever. To me, I'm still trying to figure out a lot of things.
John O. Brennan
#26. There's a bigger cause out there. It's bigger than any of us here. But we stick together, all right? We stick together and look out for each other. Because you four are all I've got left. And I'm not going to see you die. Forever alive, all right? We're not going to die."
-Sirius Black
Mordred
#27. Latinos outnumber Black people now. I'm not too happy about it. Because it's only a matter of time before we lose our month. Soon as they figure it out, they're going to have Latino History Month. All we're going to have is Cinco de Negro.
Alonzo Bodden
#28. I'm responsible for what i did. I'm not responible for what every black male did. Yes! I call myself a THUG, because i grew up in the ghetto. And im still standing.
Tupac Shakur
#29. You have to have quarterbacks who can keep up with everybody else. And I'm not saying that just black quarterbacks can do that, but more black quarterbacks are given a chance because they fit the mold.
Daunte Culpepper
#30. I know I am judged unfairly by my physical characteristics and ostracized because of that so I say, "Yes, I'm a black man."
Chuck D
#31. I'm hurting because the color of my skin makes me perfect for their target practice.
R H Sin
#32. I'm here because I stand on many, many shoulders, and that's true of every black person I know who has achieved.
Vernon Jordan
#33. I'm half-black, half-white, so I basically put it like this: I can fit in anywhere. That's why I write so many stories from so many different perspectives, because I've seen so many.
J. Cole
#34. The date here is very interesting, because, as far as I can determine, the first Star Trek episode to refer to a black hole, which it called a "black star," was aired in 1967 before Wheeler ever used the term in public.
Lawrence M. Krauss
#35. Everything I do, I go to black people. If I have a problem at the airport, I'll go to the black ticket agent. I hope they notice me because I'll get better service. If I'm at a restaurant, I look for the black waiter. Rent-a-Car, give you the upgrade.
Gary Owen
#36. I don't think because I hang out with enough black people, I'm gonna turn black. What kind of rationalization is that? I'm just friends with people that I like. I don't care what skin color you are.
Khloe Kardashian
#37. It didn't matter as much because I'm a singer, not an actress, but my face is more acceptable in a way now than when I first came on the scene, because I'm part black.
Carly Simon
#38. I'm fighting the label of 'Black' actress simply because it's very limiting in people's eyes, especially people who are making movies.
Whoopi Goldberg
#40. I don't make records that way, where I'm trying to please the marketplace or anything. Not because I have anything against that, it's just never been a part of my aesthetic, even when I was with the Pixies.
Frank Black
#41. Because I want every kid to be viewed as a person rather than as a member of a certain race does not mean that I'm not black enough ... Do they want me to be positive just for black kids and negative for everybody else?
Michael Jordan
#42. 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 to shake my ass, not 'cause "I'm dancing like a black girl!"
Miley Cyrus
#43. Because I'm a young black man driving a really nice, expensive car, I sometimes get harassed when I'm rolling through a ghetto neighbourhood.
Coolio
#44. You can never go wrong with a nice red lip. I'm not afraid to wear it during the day or basically any time because I wear a lot of black and it's a great backdrop for it.
Crystal Renn
#45. I eat kung pao chicken like it's going out of style, but I'm pretty sure I don't have an Asian cell in my body. I love Toni Morrison novels although I'm not black. I'm straight and I'm happily married. The reason I work here is because I think you deserve that, too.
Jodi Picoult
#46. Can you get a summer snow-globe instead of a winter one with green grass and flowering azalea bushes and blue sky? Because I'm here, inside it. If you shake it, perhaps it fills with black smoke, not swirling snowflakes.
Rosamund Lupton
#47. I don't know if its really important, or intelligent even, when people say to me I'm a white Spike Lee, because they said to Spike Lee you're a black Woody Allen.
Mathieu Kassovitz
#48. I will not let her speak because I love her, and when you love someone, you do not make them tell war stories. A war story is a black space. On the one side is before and on the other side is after, and what is inside belongs only to the dead.
Catherynne M Valente
#49. I wear a lot of black, and it's not because I'm depressed or anything. I like black jeans - they're pretty much the only colored jeans I wear. James Jeans have the most comfortable fabric. I'd say in general, I dress pretty comfortably.
Brittany Howard
#50. I'm so, so full of joy that America elected Obama. He didn't win because he was black - people voted for him because he had a plan and because he talked sense and because you believed him.
Estelle Fanta Swaray
#51. I have a strong army I keep with me and we don't go out there looking for problems. A lot of people have this perception ... but I don't have a superiority complex about me because I'm from New York or because I'm Peruvian/Black. I think some people get caught up in that stuff.
Immortal Technique
#52. Going up to Canada is great because I'm not dealing with people carrying their agendas into the room. I'm lucky because 97% of the people who come to the show know who they are dealing with, whether they are on the left or the right, we're sharing the same frustration.
Lewis Black
#53. I was asked for years about being a Republican, probably because most black people are Democrats. My mother heard it once and called me and said 'Charles, Republicans are for the rich people.' And I said, 'Mom, I'm rich.'
Charles Barkley
#54. I'm very proud of the Rome episode of 'No Reservations' because it violated all the conventional wisdom about making television. You're never, ever supposed to do a food or travel show in black and white.
Anthony Bourdain
#55. Because, if I'm honest, people in the white world might be appalled, but in the black world, they're making myths out of me. And I know that ain't the life.
John Singleton
#56. We [black actors] are more respected in Europe, because in Europe, I'm not a black actor - I'm an action star. In America, I'm a black actor.
Fred Williamson
#57. A rather honored guest of the Cuban government, so I wouldn't experience the problems. I think it would take a black Cuban to really articulate this because I'm being treated in a very generous way.
Huey Newton
#58. I'm a Jew. Thirty-three is when Christ died. So though I'm a Jew, in the back of my mind I still think that I gotta get it done before I'm thirty-four because well, I don't know why. He got it done before He was thirty-four.
Jack Black
#59. Should I talk about [having breast cancer]? Because how many things could I have? You know black, lesbian - I'm like, I can't be the poster child for everything. At least with the LGBT issues we get a parade and a float and it's a party.
Wanda Sykes
#60. I know love because I know the absence of it, you know what I mean? Like, I know black because I've seen white, something like that
C.M. Stunich
#61. People are gonna look up to me because I'm young, black, and female.
Aaliyah
#62. Are you scared?"
"Yes! It freaks me out, okay?"
Wyatt laughed. "Noah! You have a black belt!"
"What good does that do against ghosts and hobgoblins? Just because I can kick your ass doesn't mean I'm not tender.
Abigail Roux
#63. I lie in an early bed thinking late thoughts, waiting for the black to replace my blue. I do not struggle in your web because it was my aim to get caught. But daddy long legs I feel that I'm finally growing weary of waiting to be consumed by you.
Fiona Apple
#64. It feels like the whole world has turned upside down. There aren't any more rules.
Hey,' I say to Sam, because if the world's gone crazy, then I guess I can do whatever I want. Guess what? I'm a worker.
Holly Black
#65. I'm proud of 'Black Hawk Down' because I think it told a provocative story and it was honest. It could have had more opportunity to tell both sides of the story, but I'm still proud of it.
Josh Hartnett
#66. I feel like I come from a smaller off shoot of black people because I am mixed. People say I'm African American but that doesn't include the other half of me.
Maya Rudolph
#67. If Black women stand strong and our commitment is to ending domination I know that I'm supporting Black males, Black children male and female Black elderly because the bottom line is the struggle to end domination in all its forms.
Bell Hooks
#68. I'm not interested in making all-black films - I come from a very diverse culture; I want to work with every type of person. I work a lot with women executives because they seem to be a lot more open minded about that and a lot more progressive in that way.
Idris Elba
#69. So now I feel I'm lucky in the respect that I can sort of pick a little more carefully, which is tricky because as a black actress, there aren't that many roles to pick from.
Rachel True
#70. I try to avoid wearing black because sometimes it's the easy option. But I'm young, so it's nice to be able to play with color and not just wear black all the time. I can save that for when I'm older.
Emma Watson
#71. A lot of sequins for New Year's! Red, green, white - I fail at all of that because I'm always in black. But for Christmas, I do love wearing cute dresses with tights and a pair of boots.
Ashley Benson
#72. Yesterday when we went over the plan again and again, I never thought about Grandad showing up. Because I'm an idiot, basically
an idiot with poor planning skills. Of course he's here. Where else would he be?
Seriously, what else could go wrong?
Holly Black
#73. I wear black diamonds instead of regular ones because I'm not flashy, just flossssy.
Justin Bieber
#74. 'Awkward Black Girl' is spreading to all the right people because of word of mouth and social networks. I'm so grateful.
Issa Rae
#75. I'm not at all against white people adopting black children, because we're all human beings who need to give love and be nurtured in safety, but I do think it's better to be adopted by blacks.
Kola Boof
#76. I don't tend to like race jokes. I don't like Jew jokes and black jokes, and they make me very uncomfortable, probably because I'm both. Well, I'm not black - but if I was then I could dance better.
Iliza Shlesinger
#77. If some black man go out and start something, a riot or something or, I'm not going to jump in it and get killed because he's gone out and started something I don't believe in what he's fighting for or his approach.
Muhammad Ali
#78. I carry their beauty inside the very soul of my being. Dark with shades of grey. White with storm clouds in the distance. Because of dad and mom, I am not afraid to dream of dark victories and black beauty. I'm not afraid to be in love with the night
Diane Keaton
#79. I'm just a black hole for stuff. No one should ever hand me anything, because I get so easily distracted. I'll be like, 'Oh, look, something shiny!' I'm glad I never learned how to drive. I would be really dangerous.
Florence Welch
#80. So suck it up, cream puff, and pour your black heart out, because you know I'm not going anywhere until I either see tears or your gooey marshmallow center.
Lorelei James
#81. I've opposed black regimes and white regimes, leftist regimes and rightist regimes. I'm close to Aristide because I have respect for him, but all that is beside the point.
Randall Robinson
#82. I can't eat beans - all beans. I think because I'm half Cuban. So growing up, we were always eating black beans and rice, and I think I just said, 'Enough with it,' and I can't even stand to taste it anymore.
Ryan Lochte
#83. Last week I lost my temper in my karate class. Man, I'm not doing that again until I'm a black belt. Because I can tell you there's a difference between taking karate and receiving karate.
Demetri Martin
#84. I'm not romanticizing black people, because we've got gangsters like everybody else.
Cornel West
#85. Your suit looks just like mine." Kenji frowns. "I'm supposed to be the one with the black suit. Why can't you have a pink suit? Or a yellow suit - "
"Because we're not the freaking Power Rangers," Winston says, rolling his eyes.
"What the hell is a Power Ranger?" Kenji shoots back.
Tahereh Mafi
#86. I may be old, I may be poor, I may be black, but I'm here. I'm here because I've got this vision of justice that compels me to be a witness. I'm here because I'm supposed to be here. I'm here because you can't keep me away.
Bryan Stevenson
#87. So I'm scared, because you're not just not human, you're not like anyone ... there's nobody like you in all the world and it's you I want. I want you and I hate wanting things and I especially hate admitting I want them.
Holly Black
#88. I suppose we all have our quirks." Her gaze travels over my outfit as she says "quirks." I'm in my usual hacker chic outfit I wear on jobs, lots of tight black everything, punk meets goth, short on class and full of sass. Because fuck you, that's why.
J.T. Geissinger
#89. I wear black because I'm comfortable in it. But then in the summertime when it's hot I'm comfortable in light blue.
Johnny Cash
#90. I always considered myself bi-racial, because I didn't want to disconnect from either side, and I felt very strongly about that. Now, I understand that the world sees me as a black woman, a person of color, and I'm okay with that.
Brooklyn Sudano
#91. And I'm standing there, and I think, damn. I think, this is it. I'm going to die. Right here, right now - simply because I am a black man in an American city.
Suzanne Brockmann
#92. Get off me," Harry spat, throwing Pettigrew's hands off him in disgust. "I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing it because - I don't reckon my dad would've wanted them to become killers - just for you.
J.K. Rowling
#93. I'm pretty selective. I generally edit the contact sheets and then do work prints. Because I have my own lab and printers, I can afford the luxury of going through the contact sheets for black-and-white, making up work prints, seeing them big, and honing them down.
Herb Ritts
#94. Black is not a notion. Africa is not a color. Africa is a culture. So you can be pitch black and I am my color but I'm more African than you can ever be because culturally there are certain things that you just don't understand.
Jihan El-Tahri
#95. My solo album is different from the Black Eyed Peas albums because I'm a singer first and foremost. There are more ballads and more intimacy between me and the listener because sometimes when you're in a group you don't have space to air out your dirty laundry.
Fergie
#96. Laugh, laugh mother fucker now it's your turn because your black then it's my turn I'm white and I will starttt with your finggerss... I like them nice... so I will start with the winky finga.
Deyth Banger
#97. I just have to live my truth and know that it's okay to rock on my own vibration, because I'm me. I try to stand by that code, especially as a young Black woman in this industry. I try to walk the walk and talk the talk.
V. Bozeman
#98. One thing about me is that I'm very much like the Black Madonna. I love to reinvent myself and that's because I am a very free person.
Lil' Kim
#99. [Devina] "You know, Adrian, you ever get bored with being a Goody Two-shoes, you could come over to my side."
"Because you have cookies, right."
Those black eyes returned to his own. "And so much more."
"Well, I'm on a diet. Sorry - but thanks for the invite.
J.R. Ward
#100. I'll never admit that I'm an actor, because the next horrible follow-up question is always, "Oh, what have I seen you in?"
Michael Ian Black
