I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes... I do not weep at the world-I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.

Zora Neale Hurston

More information about this quote

Topic

Black experience

Author

Zora Neale Hurston

Source

How It Feels to Be Colored Me

Medium

Essay

Language

English

Time

1928 1920s 20th century

Occupation

Black writer Writer

From

United States

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Hurston, Zora Neale. "How It Feels to Be Colored Me." World Tomorrow, May 1928.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Zora Neale Hurston about black experience: “I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in…”
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A quote by Zora Neale Hurston about black experience: “I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in…”
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A quote by Zora Neale Hurston about black experience: “I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in…”
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Another quote from the 1920s

I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen"
Then.
Besides,
They'll see how
beautiful I am
And be ashamed—
I, too, am America.

Langston Hughes

I, Too

Read I, Too at Poetry Foundation
More information about this quote
Topic
Black experience Race relations America

Author

Langston Hughes
Source
I, Too
Medium
Poem
Statement Type
Prophecies and predictions
Language
English
Time
1926 1920s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Original Citation

Hughes, Langston. "I, Too." The Weary Blues. Alfred A. Knopf, 1926, I. 1.

Current Citation

Hughes, Langston. The Weary Blues. Alfred A. Knopf, 2015, epilogue.