Quotes about Identity

First time I think about the world. What the world got to do with anything, I think. Then I see myself sitting there quilting tween Shug Avery and Mr ——. Us three set together gainst Tobias and his fly speck box of chocolate. For the first time in my life, I feel just right.

Our mothers taught us that in the old, old days, when they were their grandmothers and their grandmothers were old—for we are our grandmothers, you understand, only with lots of new and different things added

Quién soy yo para decirle a quién ha de querer? Lo mÃ

They tried to explain to the missionaries that it was they who put Adam and Eve out of the village because they was naked. Their word for naked is white. But since they are covered by color they are not naked. They said anybody looking at a white person can tell naked, but black people can not be naked because they can not be white.

We love them. We try every way we can to show that love. But they reject us. They never even listen to how we've suffered. And if they listen they say stupid things. Why don't you speak our language? they ask. Why can't you remember the old ways? Why aren't you happy in America, if everyone there drives motorcars?

Like Jesus, who didn't know who his biological father was either. I have often thought it was this lack of knowledge of his earthly father that led him to his 'heavenly' one, for there is in all of us a yearning to know our own source, and no source is likely to seem too farfetched to a lonely, fatherless child.

Because you are who you are, the future look happy and bright.

The defeat that had frightened her in the faces of black men was the defeat of black forever defined by white.

She bound to live her life and be herself no matter what.

Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender.

Who can even imagine me looking a strange white man in the eye? It seems to me I have talked to them always with one foot raised in flight, with my head turned in whichever way is farthest from them.

God is different to us now, after all these years in Africa. More spirit than ever before, and more internal. Most people think he has to look like something or someone — a roofleaf or Christ — but we don't. And not being tied to what God looks like, frees us.