I didn't know I was a zombie pedant until I started considering what from the zombie canon to keep in 'Zone One' and what to ignore.
Colson WhiteheadRead
I was allowed to write about race using an elevator metaphor because of Toni Morrison and David Bradley and Ralph Ellison. Hopefully, me being weird allows someone who's 16 and wanting to write inspires them to have their own weird take on the world, and they can see the different kinds of African American voices being published.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of diverse voices and perspectives in literature, highlighting how personal experiences can inspire others.
Colson Whitehead reflects on his journey as a writer, crediting the influence of literary giants like Toni Morrison, David Bradley, and Ralph Ellison. He hopes that by expressing his unique perspective, he can inspire young writers to embrace their individuality and contribute to the literary landscape with their own distinct voices, particularly within the context of African American literature. The elevator metaphor suggests a journey or elevation in understanding race through storytelling.
Themes
DiversityWritingInspirationIdentityVoices
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about encouraging young writers, I shared this quote to highlight the importance of diversity in literature.
More from Colson Whitehead
All quotes →I don't generally follow sports. At an early age, I discovered that nature had apportioned me only a small reserve of enthusiasm. Best to ration.
Colson WhiteheadRead
In keeping with my family's affection for doomed product lines and hexed formats, we purchased a Betamax. The year before, we'd bought a TRS-80 instead of an Apple II, and in due course we'd unbox Mattel's Intellivision, instead of Atari's legendary gizmo. This was good training for a writer, for the sooner you accept the fact that you are a deluded idiot who is always out of step with reality the better off you will be.
Colson WhiteheadRead
Access to information, to music or any kind of culture, is getting faster and faster and more streamlined. At each juncture, people are thrown into tumult and have to adapt or die.
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I use New York to talk about home, but the ideas in 'Colossus' could be transferred to other cities. The story about Central Park is really about the first day of spring in any park. The Coney Island chapter is really about beaches and summer and heat waves.
Colson WhiteheadRead
Early on my career, I figured out that I just have to write the book I have to write at that moment. Whatever else is going on in the culture is just not that important. If you could get the culture to write your book, that would be great. But the culture can't write your book.
Colson WhiteheadRead
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