And nothing embittered me, which is important, because I think ethnic people and women in this society can end up being embittered because of the lack of affirmative action, you know.

Jones reflects on the psychological cost of structural exclusion: when opportunities are systematically limited—whether by race, ethnicity, or gender—people may internalize repeated setbacks as personal affronts, leading to bitterness. By emphasizing that “nothing embittered” him, he frames resilience not as denial of injustice but as a deliberate stance that preserved his capacity to work, collaborate, and keep faith in his craft. The remark also implies a critique of a society that withholds corrective measures (such as affirmative action) and then leaves marginalized groups to bear the emotional consequences. The quote’s significance lies in linking public policy to private emotional life: inequity doesn’t only restrict careers; it can corrode spirit.