“They disliked Jerry because he was Italian, they disliked Barbara because she was not, and therefore, had no excuse, and they disliked me because I did not appear to realize both Barbara and Jerry were white. I did not, in fact, appear to know that I was colored and this filled them with such balefulContinue reading “RKS Literature: Not Realizing I Was Colored (James Baldwin)”
Tag Archives: RKS literature
RKS Literature: What to Expect at the Italian Frontier (James Baldwin)
“And then, abruptly one is at the Italian frontier. They seem extremely surprised, but, on the whole, delighted that you decided to drop by. Between extravagant offers of extravagant dinners, and impassioned questions as to what drove you from your part of the world, they are perfectly willing to glance at your passport and stampContinue reading “RKS Literature: What to Expect at the Italian Frontier (James Baldwin)”
RKS Literature: What to Expect at Swiss Customs (James Baldwin)
“Within seconds, the time it takes to cross a small backyard (French customs), one has left this outpost, the last witness to this indisputably dour and extraordinarily interesting people and one is facing the apple faced Swiss. Their quarters are impeccable, as are their uniforms. The Swiss do not smoke their cigarettes but leave themContinue reading “RKS Literature: What to Expect at Swiss Customs (James Baldwin)”
RKS Literature: What to Expect at the French Frontier (James Baldwin)
“The man at the frontier has cigarette ashes all up and down his uniform, and a cigarette is established between his lips. He has not the remotest interest in the voyager, or his passport. Sometimes he forces himself to squint at both. Sometimes he looks at the baggage, sometimes not. Sometimes he stamps the passport;Continue reading “RKS Literature: What to Expect at the French Frontier (James Baldwin)”
RKS Literature: The Brutally Manufactured Lola San-Marquand (James Baldwin)
“I never knew her to dress in any other way. She must have had hundreds of black dresses and scarves-though-in fact, a black and impetuous toque sometimes did duty for the scarf, This, however, was mainly on opening nights. She impressed me-she impresses me still-as one of the most curious, most loving, devious, ruthless, andContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Brutally Manufactured Lola San-Marquand (James Baldwin)”
RKS Literature: White Police: Black Men (James Baldwin)
“Because I’m black and they paid to beat on black asses. But, with a kid your size, they just might get into trouble. So they let us go. They knew you weren’t nothing but a kid. They knew it. But they didn’t care. All black people are shit to them. You remember that. You blackContinue reading “RKS Literature: White Police: Black Men (James Baldwin)”
RKS Literature: Eyes Upon Me (James Baldwin)
“These were the eyes of children stronger than me, who would steal my movie money; these eyes were the eyes of white cops, whom I feared, whom I hated with a literally murderous hatred; these eyes were the eyes of old folks who thought I was a sissy and who might wonder why I wasContinue reading “RKS Literature: Eyes Upon Me (James Baldwin)”
RKS Literature: The Younger Brother (James Baldwin)
“I think it may be easier to love the really helpless younger brother because he cannot enter into competition with one on one’s own ground, or on any ground at all, and can never question one’s role, or jeopardize one’s authority. In my own case, certainly, it did not occur to me until much later-toContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Younger Brother (James Baldwin)”
RKS Literature: Your White Skin is the Problem (Andrea Levy)
“You know what your trouble is man?’ he said. ‘Your white skin. You think it makes you better than me. You think it give you the right to lord over a black man. But you know what it make you, man? It make you white. That is all, man. White. No better or worse thanContinue reading “RKS Literature: Your White Skin is the Problem (Andrea Levy)”
RKS Literature: A Venereal Gift From Calcutta (Andrea Levy)
“In the light of day, locked behind a toilet door, the enormous throbbing sore had produced a hat of pus. I felt it pop like a grape in my pants as I sat down to another meal of potato and sausage. It was ringed with a blue line clear as if drawn with a pencil.Continue reading “RKS Literature: A Venereal Gift From Calcutta (Andrea Levy)”
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