Fiction makes your dreams come true, and, as a writer, fiction allows you to delve into the area of miracles.

— James McBride

God is the color of water. Water doesn't have a color.

— James McBride

I asked her if I was black or white. She replied "You are a human being. Educate yourself or you'll be a nobody!

— James McBride

I come to the understanding that maybe what was on the inside was more important, and that your outer covering didn't count so much as folks thought it did, colored or white, man or woman.

— James McBride

If you don't have humor, you're not going to make it. You're going to be one of those people who walk around with your head about to explode.

— James McBride

It's God's world. He washes you clean. He makes you whole. Furthermore, he puts rain in your garden and sunshine in your heart. "Clarence

— James McBride

It was always so hot, and everyone was so polite, and everything was all surface but underneath it was like a bomb waiting to go off. I always felt that way about the South, that beneath the smiles and southern hospitality and politeness were a lot of guns and liquor and secrets.

— James McBride

My parents were nonmaterialistic. They believed that money without knowledge was worthless, that education tempered with religion was the way to climb out of poverty in America, and over the years they were proven right.

— James McBride

Not a week after Annie put her foot in Mrs. Huff master's duff, the Captain upped and laid down the date.

— James McBride

See, a marriage needs love. And God. And a little money. That's all. The rest you can deal with. It's not about black or white. It's about God and don't let anyone tell you different. All this Jungle fever! Shoot! The Jungle fever goes away, honey, and then what are you going to do?

— James McBride