In New York—the New York of her own time, at least—they…
““In New York—the New York of her own time, at least—they would have been objects of scorn and anger, the butt of every idiot’s crude, cruel jokes: a black woman of twenty-six and her whitebread lover who was three years younger and who had a tendency to talk like dis and dat when he got excited. Her whitebread lover who had been carrying a heavy monkey on his back only eight months before. Here, there was no one to jeer or laugh. Here, no one was pointing a finger. Here, there were only Roland, Eddie, and herself, the world’s last three gunslingers.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A Black woman and her younger white lover, both outsiders, find refuge among three fellow outlaws, escaping societal scorn.
In simple terms: Outcasts find safety together.
Key Takeaway
Seek solidarity with fellow outsiders.
Themes
outsiders
solidarity
survival
identity
love
Mood
defiant
hopeful
reflective
Type
literary
character-driven
social commentary
When to use this quote
- urban exile
- hidden community
- protective alliances
Key Concepts
racial tension
social exclusion
friendship
loneliness
Questions to Reflect On
- How do marginalized people create safe spaces?
- What costs arise from isolation?
A Different Perspective
The quote idealizes a small group, ignoring broader systemic oppression.