The Harlem of my books was never meant to be real; I never called it real; I just wanted to take it away from the white man if only in my books.
Chester HimesThere is an indomitable quality within the human spirit that cannot be destroyed; a face deep within the human personality that is impregnable to all assaults.
Chester HimesMan cannot live without some knowledge of the purpose of life. If he can find no purpose in life he creates one in the inevitability of death.
Chester HimesAmerican violence is public life, it's a public way of life, it became a form, a detective story form. So I should think that any number of black writers should go into the detective story form.
Chester HimesIf one lives in a country where racism is held valid and practiced in all ways of life eventually, no matter whether one is a racist or a victim, one comes to feel the absurdity of life....Racism generated from whites is first of all absurd. Racism creates absurdity among blacks as a defense mechanism.
Chester Himes