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
Tell me, he said, "What is this thing about time? Why is it better to be late than early? People are always saying, we must wait, we must wait. what are they waiting for?" "Well […] I guess people wait in order to make sure of what they feel." "And when you have waited—-has it made you sure?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote explores the nature of time and the reasons behind waiting, questioning if waiting leads to certainty in feelings.
James A. Baldwin's quote delves into the philosophical inquiry of time and the human tendency to wait for clarity in emotions. It prompts the reader to reflect on the reasons people postpone actions or decisions, suggesting that the act of waiting itself may not necessarily provide the certainty or understanding that individuals seek, encouraging a deeper examination of how we navigate our feelings and choices in life.
Themes
TimeWaitingFeelingsCertaintyPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech discussing decision-making, one might quote Baldwin to emphasize the importance of understanding the motivation behind waiting.
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.
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