Avenues Quote by Stephen King
“I've always thought it would be fun to update "Hansel and Gretel." I'd have these white parents in the suburbs with an income of fifty or sixty thousand dollars. Daddy loses his job, and the wicked stepmother says, "We could get along, we could keep our Mastercharge, if you'd just get rid of those shitty kids." Finally the father hires a limo and tells the driver, "Drop 'em off on Lenox Avenue in Harlem at two in the morning." These two little white kids land there. They're menaced. And this supposedly nice black lady says, "Would you like some candy?"”
About This Quote
A modern retelling of a fairy tale places privileged white children in a dangerous urban setting, highlighting social disparity and unexpected kindness.
In simple terms: Fairy tale meets urban reality, exposing inequality.
Key Takeaway
Use stories to critique social gaps and reveal humanity.
Themes
social inequality
fairy tale
urban danger
kindness
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
literary
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education
- social work
- creative writing
Key Concepts
socio‑economic critique
cultural adaptation
human compassion
Questions to Reflect On
- What does placing privileged characters in hardship reveal?
- How can kindness emerge in hostile environments?
![“A little white woman, . . . [a] tiny little white woman I could fit in my pocket.’ . . . ‘And I don’t know why I’m surprised. You don’t even notice it – you never notice. You think it’s normal. Everywhere we go, I’m alone in this… this sea of white. I barely know any black folk any more, Howie. My…” quote by Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a6e/zadie-smith-584_african-american_a-little-white-woman-a-tiny-little-white_2792220.jpg)
![“I said, "The children wanted to know what life was like." Junior said, “They [the children] don’t have any idea how rough it was.” (George responds)“Or how good it was either! People forget that a picture ain’t made from just one color. Life ain’t all good or all bad. It’s full of everything.” quote by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/831/george-dawson-and-richard-glau_children_i-said-the-children-wanted-to-know-what_725133.jpg)
