How we cite our quotes: (Story.Section.Paragraph) or (Story.Paragraph)
Quote #4
There is a way in which, in some firmly repressed corner of his mind, he considers his wife to be still black, whereas he feels himself to have moved to some other plane. (Coming Apart.44)
When a wife tries to convince her husband that he's been manipulated by pop culture and the porn industry, he has to admit some ugly truths to himself. In this case, he feels like his imitation of the white middle class entitles him to some higher status than his wife (who tries to make him see that he's been lied to—and is lying to himself).
Quote #5
"Disgusting makeup," she said, running a tissue around her collar and bringing it down a very dark brown. "Can you imagine, as many shades of brown as there are, they have only one jar to cover everything? And one jar, of course, for them, but then they only need one jar." (Fame.16)
Andrea Clement White's comment about television makeup points out a larger issue: people see those of another race as homogenous—all exactly alike. Ironically, Clement White does it herself here, claiming that brown people come in many shades (and are therefore individuals) but white people do not (and are not).
Quote #6
The black people who took us in were unfailingly hospitable and kind. I took them for granted in a way that now amazes me. I realize that at each and every house we visited I assumed hospitality, I assumed kindness. Luna was often startled by my "boldness." (Luna.8)
Walker later says that this is because she already knew Black people to be the best people in the world, so of course she assumed all kinds of good things about them. Did Luna, then, not make assumptions about hospitality and kindness because she's unsure of the goodness of Black people? Probably not, though Walker isn't clear in her explanation here.