I pray with my whole soul that the divide-and-conquerers among us will not triumph over us. We need each other in this world so desperately.
Ruby DeeRead
Before I latched onto the concept of stereotypes, not once did I reckon with the fact that I would never be a 'Hollywood starlet.'
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the realization of how stereotypes can influence self-perception and aspirations.
Ruby Dee's quote highlights the impact of societal stereotypes on individual identity and aspirations. Before recognizing stereotypes, she naively believed in the possibility of becoming a 'Hollywood starlet', only to confront the harsher realities of the industry's stereotypical standards that often exclude or limit individuals based on race, gender, and other identities. This realization speaks to the broader theme of how societal expectations can shape personal dreams and the importance of challenging these limiting beliefs.
Themes
StereotypesIdentityAspirationsSocietySelf-Perception
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about individuality versus societal expectations.
More from Ruby Dee
All quotes →You should always be prepared to win. But as much as I tell myself that, I've accepted another kind of role. Racism undercuts expectation, something like that. I'm not saying that to excuse myself from anything, but I've lived all this time, and things don't happen.
Ruby DeeRead
We both grew up in the atmosphere of struggle, both Ossie and me, ... I come out of Harlem and Harlem comes out of me - wailing police sirens and street parties, rumors and landlords, that cultural, spiritual scene. And Ossie came up from the South, where struggle and dying were part of everyday life. That is who we are.
Ruby DeeRead
I respect the fact that a director has studied the text and the road map of work before us, the subtleties, interconnections, underpinnings... His job is to paint the entire picture and knows all the colors that have to be in it.
Ruby DeeRead
See, I don’t expect to win a prize for stoic control and dignity at mourning time. Death deserve tantrums. Beating back shocked indignation, kicks in the groin, stones, classified unacceptable, not to be tolerated, not to be wooed, not to be conspired with. Only then can music, dance, movies, plays, rap be about life. Only then can life be cherished and adored.
Ruby DeeRead
I never thought about myself as an activist when we were coming along. I love the people I love. I didn't care whether they could be a Democrat, Republican, communist... anything but a racist.
Ruby DeeRead
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