How we cite our quotes: (Entry. Paragraph)
Quote #7
Some were shamelessly open, some shamelessly subtle. All showed morbid curiosity about the sexual life of the Negro, and all had, at base, the same stereotyped image of the Negro as an inexhaustible sex-machine with oversized genitals and a vast store of experiences, immensely varied. They appeared to think that the Negro has done all of those "special" things they themselves have never dared to do. They carried the conversation into the depths of depravity. (13.33)
Historical note: at this time many strains of racism included the belief that black people, and specifically black men, were obsessed with sex. In particular black men were supposed to have giant penises and just be waiting for the opportunity to rape white women. Ugh. This makes us want to throw the keys to our DeLorean into the storm sewer.
Quote #8
"Well, you people don't seem to have the inhibitions we have. We're all basically Puritans. I understand Negroes do a lot more things—different kinds of sex—than we do. Oh, don't get me wrong. I admire your attitude, think it's basically healthier than ours. You don't get so damned many conflicts. Negroes don't have much neuroses, do they? I mean you people have a more realistic tradition about sex—you're not so sheltered from it as we are." (13.56)
Historical note number two: black people were thought to basically be like animals. For plain old racists, this meant things like they were stupid and couldn't feel pain. For paternalist racists in denial, like this guy Griffin is hitchhiking with, it meant that black people were "closer to nature," or in this guy's words, were "not so sheltered from it as we [white people] are."