James

by Percival Everett

I saw the surface of her, merely the outer shell, and realized that she was mere surface all the way to her core.

“Suh, I’s tryin’ to unnerstan’. You sayin’ you is makin’ a ’stinction ’tween chattel slavery ’n’ bonded slavery?”

I don't remember if this was the first time I laughed but it's such a good line. Like something straight out of Blazing Saddles

“Really?”

I laughed at this one. Context not included for spoilers but it was a well-placed reply

“You can be what you want to be,” I told him.

They want you because you’re money.” “What?” “You’re mortgaged, Jim. Like a farm, like a house. Really, the bank owns you. Miss Watson gets a bond, a piece of paper that say what you’re worth, and you just keep living in this condition. Living. You’re a part of the bank’s assets and so people all over the world are making money off your scarred black hide. Make sense? Nobody wants you free.”