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
Everything now, we must assume, is in our hands; we have no right to assume otherwise. If we do not falter in our duty now, we may be able, handful that we are, to end the racial nightmare, and achieve our country, and change the history of the world.
Interpretation
What this quote means
We have the power to influence our future and are responsible for it.
James A. Baldwin emphasizes the importance of recognizing our agency in shaping the present and future. He suggests that we must take responsibility for our actions and duties in order to overcome societal issues, particularly racism, and to forge a better world for ourselves and future generations.
Themes
AgencyResponsibilityChangeRacial EqualityDutyFuture
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech addressing social justice, one could use this quote to inspire action.
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
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