Coffee Will Make You Black

Stevie, you can only become what you already are.”

Stevie, if you’re not mixed up at sixteen, there is probably something wrong with you.”

losing my boyfriend, but I felt relieved. I realized that I had never been in love with Sean, just impressed with him. And that was a different feeling. It hadn’t made me want to run outside and taste a snowflake

To Be Young, Gifted, and Black Is Where It’s At!”

“Carla, I wish it didn’t have to hurt. It’s hard to get excited over something painful.”

I wondered what Sean would think if he knew that I daydreamed about Nurse Horn more than him—

“If you’re black you don’t have to march to pay dues, Diane. You pay dues just by breathing.”

“Diane, do you think you deserve a medal?”

Mama was still ramming pink down my throat. It didn’t matter how many times I told her blue was my favorite color

I dream about everything you said in that poem. I just could never express it like you done,” Daddy said with a faraway look in his eyes