A River of Anger

1. "The big nostrils, flat nose, massive jaw, protruding lip and kinky hair will register their animal marks over the proudest intellect and the rarest beauty of any other race. The rule that has no exception was that one drop of Negro blood makes a negro" (pg. 255).

•  I chose this quote because it was appalling to me that the most distinct features of African Americans that physically sets them (us) apart from other races was viewed in such a negative manner. The fact that white people of this time felt as if one drop of "blackness" will somehow taint their whiteness. Therefore mixed raced children, including those who were white-passing, were categorized as black and were considered to be indefinitely inferior to whites due to their one drop of negro blood. This quote reminded me of the infamous quote (shown below) by African-American poet, novelist and activist Langston Hughes about the power of the negro blood. 
  

1. "From that claimed evidence, Dr. E.C. Ferguson extrapolated that the 'negro is monkey-like; has no sympathy for his fellow-man; has no regard for the truth, and when the truth would answer his purpose the best, he will lie. He is without gratitude or appreciation of anything done for him; is a natural born thief, - will steal anything no matter how worthless. He has no morals...His progeny are not provided for at home and are allowed to roam at large without restraint, and seek subsistence as best they can, growing up like any animal" (pg. 257).

• I chose this quote because as soon as I finished reading it, I could help but grimace and convey my discontent with this outlook. It saddens me, that African-Americans were viewed as barbaric and bestial individuals incapable of sentiment or intuition and were consequently and rather unfortunately treated as such. 

1. The new science of anthropology embraced the notion that quantifiable characteristics of whites, blacks and Indians--such as brain size-- demonstrated the clear physical and intellectual superiority of white" (pg. 257)

• I chose this quote because it reminded me of German comparative anatomist Blumenbach's scientific explanation of race. He proposed that white people had larger frontal lobes in comparison to blacks, which automatically indicated that whites were indeed more intelligent than blacks thereby indicating and affirming their status as the superior race.