“You act around white people as if you didn’t know that they were white. And they see it.” “Oh, Christ, I can’t be a slave,” I said hopelessly. “But you’ve got to eat,” he said. “Yes, I got to eat.” “Then start acting like it,” he hammered at me, pounding his fist in his palm. “When you’re in front of white people, think before you act, think before you speak. Your way of doing things is all right among our people, but not for white people. They won’t stand for it.”
