How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
It seemed to him, lying there, that there were three kinds of slaves, three kinds of people. […] The third kind of person, though, was filled by their experience with a fierce longing for justice, a fierce desire to make things right in the world, to redress the balance. (6.37)
Is it just us, or does this sound an awful lot like what Shorty says about gangsters? It's clear that both groups have people who got into the posse for different reasons. Even Toussaint and Shorty approach life differently. No matter what the attitude of the gangster or slave, it's always centered around justice (either for or against).
Quote #8
I'm not a gangster, said Biggie. People come here, they call me a gangster, but they don't know s*** about the Site. No moun want to help with the education here, no moun want to give out food—apart from us. People here got anyen to eat, anyen to drink, but they got guns. What you expect gonna happen? (17.22)
Here's a tip: Don't go throwing the "g" word in Biggie's face. Stephanie learns that one the hard way—after she calls him a gangster, Biggie flips out. Mainly, this is because he can't stand when people judge him from the outside looking in. Why don't they walk a mile in his shoes before they judge?
Quote #9
He was respected by all: by the soldiers, who appreciated his fairness and even, to his surprise, his harsh justice; by the whites; by the mulats. In his view, the constitution should not have been controversial. (18.29)
Thinking about himself, Toussaint realizes that so many people support him because he's on the right side of the debate. He proves that some things are inherently good or bad. Or, to put it another way, that slaves deserve justice, too.