I'm always annoyed about why black people have to bear the brunt of everybody else's contempt. If we are not totally understanding and smiling, suddenly we're demons.

Quote by Toni Morrison

Topics: Toni Morrison Quotes

Too much tail. All that jewelry weighs it down. Like vanity. Can't nobody fly with...

Too much tail. All that jewelry weighs it down. Like vanity. Can't nobody fly with...

Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.

Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.

If you're going to hold someone down you're going to have to hold on by...

If you're going to hold someone down you're going to have to hold on by...

I'm a controversial figure. My friends either dislike me or hate me.

I'm a controversial figure. My friends either dislike me or hate me.

For a long time I was convinced that the conflict between Jewish people and black...

For a long time I was convinced that the conflict between Jewish people and black...

If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet,...

If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet,...

Nelson Mandela is, for me, the single statesman in the world. The single statesman, in...

Nelson Mandela is, for me, the single statesman in the world. The single statesman, in...

The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange...

The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange...

I wrote my first novel because I wanted to read it.

I wrote my first novel because I wanted to read it.

Make a difference about something other than yourselves.

Make a difference about something other than yourselves.

No one ever talks about the moment you found that you were white. Or the...

No one ever talks about the moment you found that you were white. Or the...

Black literature is taught as sociology, as tolerance, not as a serious, rigorous art form.

Black literature is taught as sociology, as tolerance, not as a serious, rigorous art form.

There is really nothing more to say-except why. But since why is difficult to handle,...

There is really nothing more to say-except why. But since why is difficult to handle,...

You marvel at the economy and this choice of words. How many ways can you...

You marvel at the economy and this choice of words. How many ways can you...

I'm not entangled in shaping my work according to other people's views of how I...

I'm not entangled in shaping my work according to other people's views of how I...

Black people are victims of an enormous amount of violence. None of those things can...

Black people are victims of an enormous amount of violence. None of those things can...

I like marriage. The idea.

I like marriage. The idea.

Zombies are looking for brains. Don't worry. You're safe.

Zombies are looking for brains. Don't worry. You're safe.

Carrie: I just love Sleeping Beauty! The music, the sets, the costumes. It's so romantic!...

Carrie: I just love Sleeping Beauty! The music, the sets, the costumes. It's so romantic!...

Sharks are as tough as those football fans who take their shirts off during games...

Sharks are as tough as those football fans who take their shirts off during games...