How we cite our quotes: (Chapter. Paragraph)
Quote #4
I don't care how nice one is to you; the thing you must always remember is that almost never does he really see you as he sees himself, as he sees his own kind. He may stand with you through thin, but not thick; when the chips are down, you'll find that as fixed in him as his bone structure is his sometimes subconscious conviction that he's better than anybody black. (2.24)
Malcolm has made this statement several times throughout the book. Actually, he is often taken advantage of the prejudice displayed by the white people around him. Can you spot all of these moments?
Quote #5
It didn't take me a week to learn that all you had to do was give white people a show and they'd buy anything you offered them. It was like popping your shoeshine rag. The dining car waiters and Pullman porters knew it too, and they faked their Uncle Tomming to get bigger tips. We were in that world of Negroes who are both servants and psychologists, aware that white people are so obsessed with their own importance that they will pay liberally, even dearly, for the impression of being catered to and entertained. (5.28)
In another example of how prejudice affects all of the people involved negatively, we have this situation where the white customers are convinced to part with more of their money because they enjoy performances that confirm their racist stereotypes. Who wins here? Nobody.