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
Society is held together by our need; we bind it together with legend, myth, coercion, fearing that without it we will be hurled into that void, within which, like the earth before the Word was spoken, the foundations of society are hidden.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that society relies on shared beliefs and myths to maintain cohesion and prevent chaos.
James A. Baldwin's quote highlights the fragile nature of societal structure, emphasizing that our collective myths, legends, and even coercive measures serve to unify people and provide a sense of purpose. Without these shared narratives, he warns, we risk descending into a chaotic void reminiscent of the formless earth in a pre-creation state, illustrating the fundamental human need for connection and meaning in the fabric of society.
Themes
SocietyMythCohesionBeliefsChaosCommunity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on how cultural myths shape our identity, this quote could illustrate the importance of shared beliefs.
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.
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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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