“Life is tragic simply because the earth turns and the sun inexorably rises and sets, and one day, for each of us, the sun will go down for the last, last time. Perhaps the whole root of our trouble, the human trouble, is that we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives, will imprison ourselves in totems, taboos, crosses, blood sacrifices, steeples, mosques, races, armies, flags, nations, in order to deny the fact of death, the only fact we have. It seems to me that one ought to rejoice in the fact of death--ought to decide, indeed, to earn one's death by confronting with passion the conundrum of life. One is responsible for life: It is the small beacon in that terrifying darkness from which we come and to which we shall return.”
― The Fire Next Time
― The Fire Next Time
“We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness.”
― 1984
― 1984
“To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time. ”
―
―
“People don't have any mercy. They tear you limb from limb, in the name of love. Then, when you're dead, when they've killed you by what they made you go through, they say you didn't have any character. They weep big, bitter tears - not for you. For themselves, because they've lost their toy.”
― Another Country
― Another Country
“They did what human beings looking for freedom, throughout history, have often done. They left.”
― The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
― The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
Vanessa’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Vanessa’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
More friends…
Favorite Genres
Polls voted on by Vanessa
Lists liked by Vanessa








































