How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
'YES'M MIZ CROCKER," the children chorused.
But I remained silent. I never did approve of group responses. (1.107-08)
How does this "group response" compare to the "group response" of the mob in Chapter 11? How are both symptoms of the same disorder?
Quote #2
'S-see what they called us," I said, afraid she had not seen.
'That's what you are," she said coldly. (1.147-48)
Even when written in a book, the hateful world Cassie reacts to ("nigra") has the power to humiliate and put down. So why does her teacher seem not to mind?
Quote #3
'That's the n***** Sallie Ann said was flirtin' with her." (2.55)
Seems like an unimportant rumor, right? Wrong. This little bit of hearsay is the only justification the Wallace brothers need to go after the Berrys. Statements like this are more powerful coming from whites than from the blacks in this novel. Compare this to how Henrietta Toggins tries to tell the sheriff that the Wallaces have been bragging about burning the men. The sheriff does nothing, since it's her word (a black woman) against theirs (white men).
Quote #4
"And ain't a thing gonna be done 'bout it," said Mr. Lanier. 'That's what's so terrible! When Henrietta went to the sheriff and told him what she'd seed, he called her a liar and sent her on home. Now I hear tells that some of them men that done it been 'round braggin' 'bout it."
You've heard the expression, "I'll give my $0.02 worth," right? Well, here's a prime example with much more at stake. Henrietta's word is worth roughly $0.02, while the white men's is worth more like $2.00. Their deceit is powerful, while the testimony of the blacks is powerless.
Quote #5
As moronic rolls of laughter and cries of "N*****! N*****! Mud eater!" wafted from the open windows, Little Man threw his mudball, missing the wheels by several feet. (3.37)
Can you imagine hearing something deeply insulting and hurtful like this shouted out at you day after day? The Logans (and readers) get an earful of the humiliating racist language that was unfortunately standard for the novel's time and place (similar to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn). Little Man reacts to this in really the only way he can—with a sort of powerless rage. Smart boy. Anything more than that could get him into some serious trouble.
Quote #6
"Tarred and feathered him [...] I dunno if y'all's little ears should hear this, but it seems he called Mr. Jim Barnett a liar—he's the man who runs the Mercantile down in Strawberry. Mr. Tatum's s'pose to done told him that he ain't ordered up all them things Mr. Barnett done charged him for. Mr. Barnett said he had all them things Mr. Tatum ordered writ down and when Mr. Tatum asked to see that list of his, Mr. Barnett says, "You callin' me a liar, boy?" And Mr. Tatum says, "Yessuh, I guess I is!" That done it." (4.99)
It may sound funny, but being tarred and feathered is no joke. It was actually a quite brutal practice. How is Mr. Tatum's speech here courageous? What else might be he taking a stand against in addition to just an incorrect order at the market?
Quote #7
But she did not speak directly of what the Wallaces had done to the Berrys, for as she explained later, that was something that wavered between the known and the unknown and to mention it outright to anyone outside of those with whom you were closest was not wise. There were too many ears that listened for others besides themselves, and too many tongues that wagged to those they shouldn't. (4.256)
Here we can see how news travels in the community. Sometimes the silences speak just as loudly as the words. Mama is powerless to tell the truth about the Wallaces, because speaking out could have serious repercussions, but the truth ends up getting out anyway.
Quote #8
A burning knot formed in my throat and I felt as if my body was not large enough to hold the frustration I felt, nor deep enough to drown the rising anger. (6.125)
Cassie is so mad here that we're a little afraid she might throw a tantrum any second. Like we tell toddlers: use your words. (Only in this case, it's probably a better idea for her to keep her mouth shut.)
Quote #9
Through the evening Papa and Uncle Hammer and Big Ma and Mr. Morrison and Mama lent us their memories, acting out their tales with stageworthy skills, imitating the characters in voice, manner, and action so well that the listeners held their sides with laughter. (7.42)
Imagine having your family act out your favorite episode of Glee at your next major holiday dinner. Not very appetizing, right? Keep in mind, though, that the novel takes place before television, so this type of storytelling was a major source of entertainment for the time. It also fulfills a significant social function: it preserves the history of the family and of the African-American experience. These memories are "lent" to the next generation so that they can make a better future.