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Bessie Head

Bessie Head Books

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“The wind of freedom, which was blowing throughout the world for all people, turned and flowed into the room. As they breathed in the fresh, clear air their humanity awakened. They examined their condition. There was the foetid air, the excreta and the horror of being an oddity of the human race, with half the head of a man and half the body of a donkey. They laughed in an embarrassed way, scratching their heads. How had they fallen into this condition when, indeed, they were as human as everyone else? They started to run out into the sunlight, then they turned and looked at the dark, small room. They said: "We are not going back there.”

DehumanizationSan PeopleThe Cave
Author:Bessie Head
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“The philosophy of love and peace strangely overlooked who was in possession of the guns. There had been love and peace for some time on the continent of Africa because for all this time black men had been captivated by the doctrines of Christianity. It took them centuries to realize its contradictions. ... perhaps there was no greater crime as yet than all the lies Western civilization had told in the name of Jesus Christ.”

MenPhilosophyLyingReligionJesusNamesBlackChristRealizingChristianityGreaterCenturyCrimeCivilizationGunJesus ChristWesternPossessionDoctrineContradictionContinentsOverlookedWestern CivilizationPeace And LoveCaptivatedPhilosophy Love
Author:Bessie Head
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“I might really have gone round the bend. I mean people who get visions and see a gigantic light descend on them from the sky can't be all there but if so I feel mighty happy. If one is happy and cracked it's much better than being unhappy and sane.”

PeopleIfsFeelsMeanLightMightVisionGoneSkyRoundsUnhappySaneCrackedMean PeopleBeing Unhappy
Book:A gesture of belonging: letters from Bessie Head, 1965-1979
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“I have often noticed that the need for cash and the production of a masterpiece just don't coincide with me. Money will hit me at a big off-period and genius will hit me in starvation, that is, I often get the money when I don't think I deserve it and have been lolling around for days and days thinking the most abysmal thoughts.”

ThinkingNeedsHas BeensBigsGeniusPeriodsDeserveProductionsCashMasterpieceStarvation
Book:A gesture of belonging: letters from Bessie Head, 1965-1979
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“Most people live uncomplicated lives. They have work and quietly rear their children. There is an order and sanity about them that keeps the world going. There is an outer disorder and insanity about my life which makes me a victim. One of the disorders is that they won't give us citizenship here.”

PeopleWorldGivingChildrenOrderVictimInsanityDisorderSanityCitizenshipUncomplicated
Book:A gesture of belonging: letters from Bessie Head, 1965-1979
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