Thank you for having the courage to be our voice, to speak the rage that so many of us carry in silence. Thank you, for every word, every stand you have taken.
“Whitepeople believed that whatever the manners, under every dark skin was a jungle. Swift unnavigable waters, swinging screaming baboons, sleeping snakes, red gums ready for their sweet white blood. In a way, he thought, they were right. The more coloredpeople spent their strength trying to convince them how gentle they were, how clever and loving, how human, the more they used themselves up to persuade whites of something Negroes believed could not be questioned, the deeper and more tangled the jungle grew inside. But it wasn’t the jungle blacks brought with them to this place from the other (livable) place. It was the jungle whitefolks planted in them. And it grew. It spread. In, through and after life, it spread, until it invaded the whites who had made it. Touched them every one. Changed and altered them. Made them bloody, silly, worse than even they wanted to be, so scared were they of the jungle they had made. The screaming baboon lived under their own white skin; the red gums were their own.”
Wow -what words can portray is so very powerful here! I'm not black, but I did watch the movie 'Beloved' (and was horrified by it). Being an elderly white woman and Canadian has obviously left me ignorant of what is really going on. I'm having my eyes and ears pick up deep, old and malevolent forces that are just now piercing my inner 'justice seeker'. Thank you for posting this quote by Toni Morrison - it hit me hard. I've obviously got lots of work to do to catch up in this area of life in the world (most especially the US and Canada (most likely right under my nose!).
Hey Doc, your words resonate deeply. This moment in our history feels like a painful reflection of past injustices, and the looming uncertainty feels both familiar and unsettling. The metaphor of Yeats’ “rough beast” reminds us that forces of division and fear have long shadowed this country, surfacing in times when compassion and unity should prevail instead. The resurgence of grievances and hatred in our public discourse is a troubling echo of darker chapters of history, and it’s hard to reconcile how quickly hard-won progress can feel imperiled. The reminder to love fiercely -- to care for our children and our communities -- is critical. Thanks for always spreading the good words.
That Yeats poem was on my mind too. And like you I am experiencing the process of this grief. I wanted to escape, I am angry, I despair, I go back to angry, I go to fear, and more despair. I know at some point, resolve with take place but at the moment….thanks for writing — it keeps the beast in perspective.
I’m 20 years older than you, and I’m sorry for your pain! I’m sorry that younger and future generations will inherit THIS America! The cowards gave us Donald Trump &Co. , but things happen according to certain laws of Karma. We planted a certain seed, watered and nurtured it, and it gave us a certain fruit. Karma has no menu, and we got what we deserved! Let’s buckle up, dream another dream and continue to spread positive energy.
Thank you! A thousand times over thank you! As I sit with these awful truths in my African descended female body… that my neighbor (biblical sense) so despises women and brown people that they would chart their own demise.
Thank you for having the courage to be our voice, to speak the rage that so many of us carry in silence. Thank you, for every word, every stand you have taken.
“Whitepeople believed that whatever the manners, under every dark skin was a jungle. Swift unnavigable waters, swinging screaming baboons, sleeping snakes, red gums ready for their sweet white blood. In a way, he thought, they were right. The more coloredpeople spent their strength trying to convince them how gentle they were, how clever and loving, how human, the more they used themselves up to persuade whites of something Negroes believed could not be questioned, the deeper and more tangled the jungle grew inside. But it wasn’t the jungle blacks brought with them to this place from the other (livable) place. It was the jungle whitefolks planted in them. And it grew. It spread. In, through and after life, it spread, until it invaded the whites who had made it. Touched them every one. Changed and altered them. Made them bloody, silly, worse than even they wanted to be, so scared were they of the jungle they had made. The screaming baboon lived under their own white skin; the red gums were their own.”
― Toni Morrison, Beloved
Wow -what words can portray is so very powerful here! I'm not black, but I did watch the movie 'Beloved' (and was horrified by it). Being an elderly white woman and Canadian has obviously left me ignorant of what is really going on. I'm having my eyes and ears pick up deep, old and malevolent forces that are just now piercing my inner 'justice seeker'. Thank you for posting this quote by Toni Morrison - it hit me hard. I've obviously got lots of work to do to catch up in this area of life in the world (most especially the US and Canada (most likely right under my nose!).
Hey Doc, your words resonate deeply. This moment in our history feels like a painful reflection of past injustices, and the looming uncertainty feels both familiar and unsettling. The metaphor of Yeats’ “rough beast” reminds us that forces of division and fear have long shadowed this country, surfacing in times when compassion and unity should prevail instead. The resurgence of grievances and hatred in our public discourse is a troubling echo of darker chapters of history, and it’s hard to reconcile how quickly hard-won progress can feel imperiled. The reminder to love fiercely -- to care for our children and our communities -- is critical. Thanks for always spreading the good words.
That Yeats poem was on my mind too. And like you I am experiencing the process of this grief. I wanted to escape, I am angry, I despair, I go back to angry, I go to fear, and more despair. I know at some point, resolve with take place but at the moment….thanks for writing — it keeps the beast in perspective.
Shakespeare too:
“ ‘Tis the time’s plague, when madmen lead the blind.”
Thank you once again for your wise and kind words. 💙
Good afternoon Dr. Glaude,
I’m 20 years older than you, and I’m sorry for your pain! I’m sorry that younger and future generations will inherit THIS America! The cowards gave us Donald Trump &Co. , but things happen according to certain laws of Karma. We planted a certain seed, watered and nurtured it, and it gave us a certain fruit. Karma has no menu, and we got what we deserved! Let’s buckle up, dream another dream and continue to spread positive energy.
Thank you! A thousand times over thank you! As I sit with these awful truths in my African descended female body… that my neighbor (biblical sense) so despises women and brown people that they would chart their own demise.