Question

In an interview, Blalock says, “You’re either going to give me my respect, or I’m going to get my respect.” Blalock describes her expectations for respect in her community. What does she mean by respect?

Answer 1

Blalock means by "respect" two specific things:

• To be regarded in high esteem by the people in her community.
• To be treated positively because of that.

Blalock wants to be respected because she wants to be seen as an important, worthy member of her community. With the phrase "or I'm going to get my respect", Blalock is saying that even if at first, her community does not hold her in high regard, she will act in such a way, that people will inevitably come to see her in the way she wants to be seen.