"As much as I try, when I open my mouth, Lena comes out, And I get so mad"

Lena Horne's quote, "As much as I try, when I open my mouth, Lena comes out, And I get so mad", provides a deep and personal insight into her self-awareness and struggle with identity. This declaration reflects the complexities involved in grappling with one's genuine self versus the external understandings or expectations from others.

Horne was an iconic African American vocalist, actress, and civil rights activist, renowned for her powerful voice and striking presence. Her life and career were marked by the difficulties of navigating the show business throughout a time of significant racial discrimination and socio-political struggle. In this context, the quote reveals layers of personal and professional conflict.

The expression "when I open my mouth, Lena comes out" suggests an inevitability of self-expression that she can not escape. Despite efforts to maybe fit into specific functions enforced by society or to comply with market requirements, her true self-- her essence, beliefs, and possibly her disappointments with those extremely constraints-- emerges whenever she speaks. This doesn't just represent her physical voice but likewise includes her viewpoints, emotions, and identity. In a market that often pigeon-holed entertainers, particularly females of color, into stereotypes, Lena's authentic self was both her biggest property and a source of tension when it encountered external expectations.

The latter part of the quote, "And I get so mad", communicates her frustration, maybe with the social pressures to reduce her true self or with herself for not fully controlling that output. This internal dispute suggests a continuous battle in between accepting one's identity and the desire to fulfill external needs or to secure oneself from the consequences of doing so. It encapsulates the timeless battle of maintaining authenticity in the face of difficulty and speaks broadly to the challenges numerous face in remaining real to oneself amidst external pressures.

Lena's words resonate as an affirmation of self-acceptance and the continuous journey towards understanding and being comfortable with one's identity-- a journey that is both deeply personal and generally relatable.