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
You're getting to be a big boy,' I said desperately, 'it's time you started thinking about your future.' 'I'm thinking about my future,' said Sonny, grimly. 'I think about it all the time.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of contemplating one's future as adulthood approaches.
In this quote by James A. Baldwin, there is a conversation between two figures where one urges the other to start considering his future seriously as he transitions into adulthood. The response highlights a common struggle among young individuals who often think about their future but may find it challenging to envision or plan for it amidst the pressures and uncertainties of life.
Themes
FutureAdulthoodPlanningLifeContemplation
In practice
Example use cases
During a graduation speech to encourage students to think seriously about their career paths.
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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