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At that moment in time when we feel like the other, we were not the person embraced, not one of the cool kids, not in the club - when you're that person, it makes you feel smaller, and when they persecute you as a result, that's a difficult position to be in.
Mahershala Ali
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote reflects on feelings of exclusion and the pain of not fitting in with a group.

Mahershala Ali's quote deeply explores the emotional turmoil experienced by individuals who feel ostracized or marginalized. It highlights the difficulty of being in a position where one is not accepted or embraced by peers, which can lead to feelings of inferiority and hurt when faced with persecution or judgment from others. This experience often shapes one's identity and perspective on relationships.

Themes

ExclusionBelongingIdentityPersecutionRelationships

In practice

Example use cases

During a speech about diversity at a school rally.

More from Mahershala Ali

The call for diversity is about recognizing that in order to be in the conversation come awards season, it goes back to the content that is being produced.
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I think if you have any desire to be a leading man or to really carry some of these stories, there's this relationship that has to be cultivated with an audience. People have to be able to say your name.
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To really be conscious of how long the journey is, be patient, push yourself, persevere, and always be working on your craft while waiting for your break. That's what I'm still working on, having done this for 20 years now.
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Your life, your circumstances change, and you have to continue to grow as a person, and once you have means and opportunity, you have to make different choices to protect what you have.
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To get to play someone who was in some capacity the King of Harlem, that meant something to me. Deep within my bones. I was inspired by the energy that I knew to be a real thing.
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I remember clearly, when I was about 4, my Aunt Linda said, 'I'm not babysitting him no more. He's bad.' It was one of the first conscious shifts I remember making. I decided, 'I'm going to be good now.'
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