How we cite our quotes:
Quote #4
"Grown-up white men don't want to pretend to be anything else. Not even for a minute."
"They'll become anything for as long as it takes to steal some land." (1.6.10-11)
While Mr. Hill is much more politically and racially aware than his wife, she has a pretty good point with this one. True—Mr. Longknife actually ends up being honest guy (and a bonafide Native American), but the land ends up getting stolen anyway a few months later by government officials. Naturally, Mr. and Mrs. Hill will no longer be allowed on this public property because of their race.
Quote #5
Why did they need a guard? Then, a question more to the point: How had they known they would need a guard? Did they know something she did not know? (1.8.15)
This is the first time that Meridian realizes that there is a racial conflict happening that is much larger and much older than her. It's an eye-opener that shocks and horrifies Meridian, but it's the kick in the butt she needs to get involved in the burgeoning political movement and do her part for racial equality.
Quote #6
Everyone thought him handsome because his nose was so keen and his skin was tan and not black; and Meridian [...] thought him handsome for exactly those reasons, too. (1.14.1)
People think that Truman is handsome because he fits white standards of beauty. Although Meridian falls victim to this too, she at least has the self-awareness to feel weird about it. As referenced throughout the novel, this is due to the power of pop culture. When kids spend all day watching only white people in TV and movies, their standards of beauty are inevitably going to be influenced.