Black skin Quote by Kathryn Stockett
““Once upon a time they was two girls," I say. "one girl had black skin, one girl had white." Mae Mobley look up at me. She listening. "Little colored girl say to little white girl, 'How come your skin be so pale?' White girl say, 'I don't know. How come your skin be so black? What you think that mean?' "But neither one a them little girls knew. So little white girl say, 'Well, let's see. You got hair, I got hair.'"I gives Mae Mobley a little tousle on her head. "Little colored girl say 'I got a nose, you got a nose.'"I gives her little snout a tweak. She got to reach up and do the same to me. "Little white girl say, 'I got toes, you got toes.' And I do the little thing with her toes, but she can't get to mine cause I got my white work shoes on. "'So we's the same. Just a different color', say that little colored girl. The little white girl she agreed and they was friends. The End." Baby Girl just look at me. Law, that was a sorry story if I ever heard one. Wasn't even no plot to it. But Mae Mobley, she smile and say, "Tell it again.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Help by Kathryn Stockett, 2009
A naive children's dialogue highlights how superficial differences mask deeper commonalities, yet the story lacks depth.
In simple terms: Simple interactions reveal shared humanity despite skin color.
Key Takeaway
Look beyond surface traits to find common ground.
Themes
racial identity
friendship
misunderstanding
childhood innocence
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
literary
social commentary
When to use this quote
- school playground
- family gatherings
- community events
- teaching diversity
Key Concepts
social perception
empathy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we teach children nuanced understanding of race?
- What stories better illustrate shared humanity?
A Different Perspective
The narrative oversimplifies complex racial dynamics.
