It is dangerous to be an American Negro male. America has never wanted its Negroes to be men, and does not, generally, treat them as men. It treats them as mascots, pets, or things.
James A. BaldwinRead
But, when the chips are down, its better to be furious with someone you love, or frightened for someone you love, than be put through the merciless horror of being ashamed of someone you love.
Interpretation
What this quote means
It is better to experience strong emotions towards loved ones than to feel ashamed of them.
This quote by James A. Baldwin emphasizes the importance of genuine emotions in relationships, suggesting that feeling anger or fear for someone you love is preferable to the deep pain of shame. It reflects the complexities of love and encourages individuals to embrace intense feelings rather than bottling them up due to societal judgments.
Themes
LoveEmotionsShameRelationshipsFeelings
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a discussion about the complexities of love in a relationship seminar.
More from James A. Baldwin
All quotes →The white man discovered the Cross by way of the Bible, but the black man discovered the Bible by way of the Cross.
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Those kids aren't dumb. But the people who run these schools want to make sure they don't get smart: they are really teaching the kids to be slaves.
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Experience, which destroys innocence, also leads one back to it.
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The reason people think it's important to be white is that they think it's important not to be black.
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The trick is to love somebody.... If you love one person, you see everybody else differently.
James A. BaldwinRead
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