Americans, unhappily, have the most remarkable ability to alchemize all bitter truths into an innocuous but piquant confection and to transform their moral contradictions, or public discussion of such contradictions, into a proud decoration, such as are given for heroism on the battle field. – James Baldwin

I love America more than any other country in this world; and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually. – James Baldwin