The making of an American begins at the point where he himself rejects all other ties, any other history, and himself adopts the vesture of his adopted land.

Quote by James Baldwin

Topics: James Baldwin Quotes

Europe has what we do not have yet, a sense of the mysterious and inexorable...

Europe has what we do not have yet, a sense of the mysterious and inexorable...

I met a lot of people in Europe. I even encountered myself.

I met a lot of people in Europe. I even encountered myself.

Everybody's journey is individual. If you fall in love with a boy, you fall in...

Everybody's journey is individual. If you fall in love with a boy, you fall in...

The primary distinction of the artist is that he must actively cultivate that state which...

The primary distinction of the artist is that he must actively cultivate that state which...

Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it...

Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it...

The responsibility of a writer is to excavate the experience of the people who produced...

The responsibility of a writer is to excavate the experience of the people who produced...

An identity would seem to be arrived at by the way in which the person...

An identity would seem to be arrived at by the way in which the person...

It is a very rare man who does not victimize the helpless.

It is a very rare man who does not victimize the helpless.

It is only in his music, which Americans are able to admire because a protective...

It is only in his music, which Americans are able to admire because a protective...

The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions which have been hidden by...

The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions which have been hidden by...

But the relationship of morality and power is a very subtle one. Because ultimately power...

But the relationship of morality and power is a very subtle one. Because ultimately power...

The paradox of education is precisely this; that as one begins to become conscious one...

The paradox of education is precisely this; that as one begins to become conscious one...

Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot...

Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot...

The reason people think it's important to be white is that they think it's important...

The reason people think it's important to be white is that they think it's important...

The South is very beautiful but its beauty makes one sad because the lives that...

The South is very beautiful but its beauty makes one sad because the lives that...

It is a great shock at the age of five or six to find that...

It is a great shock at the age of five or six to find that...

The face of a lover is an unknown, precisely because it is invested with so...

The face of a lover is an unknown, precisely because it is invested with so...

If you're treated a certain way you become a certain kind of person. If certain...

If you're treated a certain way you become a certain kind of person. If certain...

We have all had the experience of finding that our reactions and perhaps even our...

We have all had the experience of finding that our reactions and perhaps even our...