No one ever talks about the moment you found that you were white. Or the moment you found out you were black. That's a profound revelation. The minute you find that out, something happens. You have to renegotiate everything.

Quote by Toni Morrison

Topics: Toni Morrison Quotes

Birth, life, and death -- each took place on the hidden side of a leaf

Birth, life, and death -- each took place on the hidden side of a leaf

If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it.

If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it.

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...

There is nothing of any consequence in education, in the economy, in city planning, in...

There is nothing of any consequence in education, in the economy, in city planning, in...

The unflattering reviews are painful for short periods of time; the badly written ones are...

The unflattering reviews are painful for short periods of time; the badly written ones are...

I think some aspects of writing can be taught. Obviously, you can't teach vision or...

I think some aspects of writing can be taught. Obviously, you can't teach vision or...

In becoming an American, from Europe, what one has in common with that other immigrant...

In becoming an American, from Europe, what one has in common with that other immigrant...

We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may...

We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may...

I merged those two words, black and feminist, because I was surrounded by black women...

I merged those two words, black and feminist, because I was surrounded by black women...

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...

I don't think anybody cares about unwed mothers unless they're black or poor. The question...

I don't think anybody cares about unwed mothers unless they're black or poor. The question...

I would solve a lot of literary problems just thinking about a character in the...

I would solve a lot of literary problems just thinking about a character in the...

My children are delightful people, whom I would love even if they weren't my children.

My children are delightful people, whom I would love even if they weren't my children.

At some point in life the world's beauty becomes enough. You don't need to photograph,...

At some point in life the world's beauty becomes enough. You don't need to photograph,...

Make a difference about something other than yourselves.

Make a difference about something other than yourselves.

The loneliest woman in the world is the woman without a close woman friend.

The loneliest woman in the world is the woman without a close woman friend.

Black boys became criminalized. I was in constant dread for their lives, because they were...

Black boys became criminalized. I was in constant dread for their lives, because they were...

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...

In this country American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate.

In this country American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate.

Somebody has to take responsibility for being a leader.

Somebody has to take responsibility for being a leader.