“Sometimes without conscious realization, our thoughts, our faith, out interests are entered into the past. We talk about other times, other places, other persons, and lose our living hold on the present. Sometimes we think if we could just go… — James McBride Copy Share Image
Some things in this world just ain't meant to be, not in the times we want 'em to, and the heart has to hold… — James McBride Copy Share Image
There are some really great books that have been written about slavery, but I don't think that the discourse about it in society has been very accurate or healthy. I don't think we've come up with ways to tell it that don't insult people or hit them in the wrong way. Part of the problem is that most people don't… — James McBride Copy Share
There are two responses to really awful things. One is to lament and say, "Oh my God, oh lord." And the other is to… — James McBride Copy Share Image
If you're going to cheat and take people's history and you're not writing the Bible, you ain't really so great. But if you try… — James McBride Copy Share Image
“Most cars drove through there because the drivers is either from The Bottom and wanna get home - or they ain't from The Bottom… — James McBride Copy Share Image
There has to be some mystery in life, because the joy of being a writer and the joy of being a musician is the… — James McBride Copy Share Image
“And when James asked what color God was, she said, God is the color of water.” — James McBride Copy Share Image
I'm proud of 'Miracle at St. Anna' and I loved it; there's no question in my mind it's as good as any movie that… — James McBride Copy Share Image
“back,” Daddy said. “It’ll work out.” He had no idea what to do about Helen. They spoke a completely different language. He was an old-timer who called school “schoolin”’ and called me “boy.” He had run off from Jim Crow in the South and felt that education, any education, was a privilege. Helen was far beyond that. Weeks passed, months,… — James McBride Copy Share
I'm one of the few Black writers, or African American writers, who managed to work my way through the system so that it has… — James McBride Copy Share Image