A lot of black people believe that Jews in this country have become white. They behave like white people rather than Jewish people.

Black people are victims of an enormous amount of violence. None of those things can take place without the complicity of the people who run the schools and the city.

What do you say? There really are no words for that. There really aren't. Somebody tries to say, 'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.' People say that to me. There's no language for it. Sorry doesn't do it. I think you should just hug people and mop their floor or something.

There is an incredible amount of magic and feistiness in black men that nobody has been able to wipe out. But everybody has tried.

There is really nothing more to say - except why. But since why is difficult to handle, one must take refuge in how.

I wanted to separate color from race. Distinguishing color - light, black, in-between - as the marker for race is really an error.

Today is always here,' said Sethe. 'Tomorrow, never.