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
When the white man came to Africa, the white man had the Bible and the African had the land, but now it is the white man who is being, reluctantly and bloodily, separated from the land, and the African who is still attempting to digest or to vomit up the Bible.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the historical and cultural clash between colonizers and indigenous people.
James A. Baldwin’s quote highlights the complexity of colonialism in Africa, underscoring the power dynamics that shifted over time. Initially, the European colonizers imposed their religion and culture upon the African people, who possessed their own land and traditions. The quote suggests that as history progressed, the colonizers began to struggle with their detached relationship to the land they took, while the Africans grappled with the legacy of the imposed beliefs, indicating a profound struggle of identity and belonging.
Themes
ColonialismIdentityCultureConflictHistory
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the impact of colonialism on contemporary African societies.
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.
James A. BaldwinRead
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.
James A. BaldwinRead
Experience, which destroys innocence, also leads one back to it.
James A. BaldwinRead
The reason people think it's important to be white is that they think it's important not to be black.
James A. BaldwinRead
The trick is to love somebody.... If you love one person, you see everybody else differently.
James A. BaldwinRead
Similar quotes
No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever.
Thomas JeffersonRead
In our leisure we reveal what kind of people we are.
OvidRead
I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion.
Thomas JeffersonRead
I call our world Flatland, not because we call it so, but to make its nature clearer to you, my happy readers, who are privileged to live in Space.
Edwin A. AbbottRead
O, call back yesterday, bid time return
William ShakespeareRead
A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader.
Samuel AdamsRead