The State, at bottom, and when the chips are down, rules by means of a terror made legal – that is how Franco ruled so long, and is the undeniable truth concerning South Africa. No one called the late J. Edgar Hoover a terrorist, though that is precisely what he was: and if anyone wishes, now, in this context, to speak of civilized values or democracy or morality, you will pardon this poor nigger if he puts his hand before his mouth, and snickers – if he laughs at you. I have endured your morality for a very long time, am still crawling up out of that dungheap: all that the slave can learn from his master is how to be a slave, and that is not morality.... James Baldwin from Just Above My Head (1978)
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 13:54:56 +0000