“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.” LanguageFearRaceExpectationsAfrican AmericansBlacksRace RelationsWhitesSlaves 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
“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.” ThinkingWaitingRaceAfrican AmericansBlacksRace RelationsWorkingWhitesSlaves 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
“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.” HumorRaceLaughingAfrican AmericansBlacksRace RelationsMockeryWhitesSlavesMaking Fun Of Book:James Source: James