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James

Book by Percival Everett · 13 quotes · African Americans, Blacks, Slaves

James is a fictional narrative that delves into the complexities of human nature, focusing on the protagonist's journey towards self-discovery and understanding.

Book detail: James is presented as a focused source page for quotations connected with this book, collection, transcript, or source record.

James is a fictional narrative that delves into the complexities of human nature, focusing on the protagonist's journey towards self-discovery and understanding.

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James Quotes

“Why did God set it up like this?” Rachel asked. “With them as masters and us as slaves?” “There is no God, child. There’s religion but there’s no God of theirs. Their religion tells that we will get our reward in the end. However, it apparently doesn’t say anything about their punishment. But when we’re around them, we believe in God. Oh, Lawdy Lawd, we’s be believin’. Religion is just a controlling tool they employ and adhere to when convenient.” “There must be something,” Virgil said. “I’m sorry, Virgil. You might be right. There might be some higher power, children, but it’s not their white God. However, the more you talk about God and Jesus and heaven and hell, the better they feel.” The children said together, “And the better they feel, the safer we are.”

God Religion Race Safety Slavery African Americans Blacks Race Relations Whites

Book:James

Source: James

“I had never seen a white man filled with such fear. The remarkable truth, however, was that it was not the pistol, but my language, the fact that I didn’t conform to his expectations, that I could read, that had so disturbed and frightened him.”

Language Fear Race Expectations African Americans Blacks Race Relations Whites Slaves

Book:James

Source: James

“I was as much scared as angry, but where does a slave put anger? We could be angry with one another; we were human. But the real source of our rage had to go without address, swallowed, repressed.”

Fear Race Anger Slavery Rage African Americans Blacks Race Relations Repression Slaves

Book:James

Source: James

“I hope they never find you," Huck said. "You'll be wishin' you was drowned in the Mississippi." "Yes?" "They want to hang you twice." I nodded. I realized I couldn't be made more afraid than I was, than I had been my entire life.”

Fear Slavery African Americans Blacks Slaves Fugitives Fugitive Slaves

Book:James

Source: James

“It was clear that the people we had escaped on the beach were not following us; they were too concerned with being survivors. White people often spent time admiring their survival of one thing or another. I imagined it was because so often they had no need to survive, but only to live.”

Living Survival Slavery African Americans Blacks Survivors Whites Slaves

Book:James

Source: James

“White folks watch us work and forget how long we're left alone in our heads. Working and waiting." I smiled. "If only they knew the danger in that.”

Thinking Waiting Race African Americans Blacks Race Relations Working Whites Slaves

Book:James

Source: James

“I cain't believe Miss Watson gone sell you. I mean, she likes you." "I reckon she likes money mo'. Mos' peoples likes money mo' 'n anythin' else. White folks, anyways.”

Money Race Slavery African Americans Blacks Race Relations Whites Slaves

Book:James

Source: James

“Where am I?" I asked. "You're in Illinois," the old man said. "So, I'm in a free state?" The men laughed. "Boy, you're in America," a muscular man said.”

America Freedom United States Slavery United States Of America African Americans Blacks Slaves

Book:James

Source: James

“Across the water was a town and I guessed, from all I'd heard, that it might be Cairo. I wished that had mattered. A fugitive slave was a slave in a free state just the same.”

Freedom Slavery African Americans Blacks Slaves Fugitives Fugitive Slaves

Book:James

Source: James

“Papa, why do we have to learn this?” “White folks expect us to sound a certain way and it can only help if we don’t disappoint them,” I said. “The only ones who suffer when they are made to feel inferior is us. Perhaps I should say ‘when they don’t feel superior.”

Race Inequality African Americans Blacks Race Relations Whites

Book:James

Source: James

“He was enjoying himself and that was all right with me. It always made life easier when white folks could laugh at a poor slave now and again. "I had you goin'," Huck said. I acted like he'd hurt my feelings. White people love feeling guilty.”

Race Laughter Prejudice Slavery African Americans Blacks Race Relations Mockery Whites Slaves

Book:James

Source: James

“It’s a horrible world. White people try to tell us that everything will be just fine when we go to heaven. My question is, Will they be there? If so, I might make other arrangements.”

Religion Heaven Race African Americans Blacks Race Relations Whites

Book:James

Source: James

“We started to laugh and then we spotted a white man up the road. There was nothing that irritated white men more than a couple of slaves laughing. I suspected they were afraid we were laughing at them or else they simply hated the idea of us having a good time.”

Humor Race Laughing African Americans Blacks Race Relations Mockery Whites Slaves Making Fun Of

Book:James

Source: James

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