How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"[T]here were some white people who thought that it was wrong for any people to be slaves; so the people who needed slaves to work in their fields and the people who were making money bringing slaves from Africa preached that black people weren't really people like white people were, so slavery was all right." (6.89)
Mama points out that the first step toward enslaving people is to dehumanize them. When people can take away someone's humanity, they are more likely to be able to convince themselves that anything you do to them is okay. What are some other examples of this? You may want to consider the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide as examples.
Quote #8
"Well, Cassie, during slavery there was some farms that mated folks like animals to produce more slaves. Breeding slaves brought a lot of money for them slave owners, 'specially after the government said they couldn't bring no more slaves from Africa, and they produced all kinds of slaves to sell on the block. And folks with enough money, white men and even free black men, could buy 'zactly what they wanted. My folks was bred for strength like they folks and they grandfolks 'fore 'em." (7.51)
This is another example of the dehumanizing influence of slavery: the slaves were bred like farm animals, and selected for desirable traits. Ugh. But at least we know why Mr. Morrison is so big and strong. (Also, irony alert: this breeding program is what made Mr. Morrison so dangerous.)
Quote #9
"I'm a Southerner, born and bred, but that doesn't mean I approve of all that goes on here, and there are a lot of other white people who feel the same." (7.139)
Mr. Jamison's a pretty good guy. Here, he shows his support for the black community and has just offered to back the credit of the poor black farmers so they don't have to shop at the Wallace store. Instead of painting all white characters with the broad brush of stereotypes, Taylor offers some counter-examples of whites who treat the African-Americans fairly (such as Mr. Jamison) and who want to be their friends (Jeremy Simms). Can you think of other examples in the book?