“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.” GodReligionRaceSafetySlaveryAfrican AmericansBlacksRace RelationsWhites 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.” FearRaceAngerSlaveryRageAfrican AmericansBlacksRace RelationsRepressionSlaves 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.” FearSlaveryAfrican AmericansBlacksSlavesFugitivesFugitive 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.” LivingSurvivalSlaveryAfrican AmericansBlacksSurvivorsWhitesSlaves 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.” MoneyRaceSlaveryAfrican AmericansBlacksRace RelationsWhitesSlaves 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.” AmericaFreedomUnited StatesSlaveryUnited States Of AmericaAfrican AmericansBlacksSlaves 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.” FreedomSlaveryAfrican AmericansBlacksSlavesFugitivesFugitive Slaves 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.” RaceLaughterPrejudiceSlaveryAfrican AmericansBlacksRace RelationsMockeryWhitesSlaves Book:James Source: James