What I have wanted to do is take roles that are unexpected for people who look like me. Roles that the establishment would say, 'Oh, she couldn't possibly be that.'
Ruth NeggaRead
When I was a kid in Ireland, there were not very many black people. I was very much like the strange brown thing, intriguing and cute. I didn't experience racism there. The first time I did was in London. It was that moment that you realize you're black. A kind of lifting of the veil.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the experience of racial identity and the awakening of self-awareness about one's ethnicity.
Ruth Negga's quote captures a pivotal moment in her life when she first became aware of her racial identity and the concept of racism. Growing up in a predominantly white environment in Ireland, she experienced her ethnicity as something that was both unique and endearing until she moved to London, where the societal dynamics shifted her perception. This realization signifies a deeper understanding of how race can shape one’s identity and experiences in different contexts, highlighting the contrasts between childhood innocence and the complexities of adult social realities.
Themes
Racial IdentitySelf-AwarenessRacismIrelandLondon
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about racial identity, this quote can emphasize the importance of recognizing one’s background.
More from Ruth Negga
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When you connect to someone on a human level, and you get to know about them, you can begin to love the things that make them different. That's when fear dissipates, and that's when we can live the life that we're all supposed to be living.
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I don't like the term 'colour-blind' - because I don't want people to be blind to my colour.
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