Дванадцять років рабства

           Iseverythingrightbecausethelawallowsit? Supposethey’dpassalawtakingawayyourlibertyandmakingyouaslave?" 

           "Oh,thatain’tasupposablecase,"saidEpps,stilllaughing;"hopeyoudon’tcomparemetoanigger,Bass." 

           "Well,"Bassansweredgravely,"no,notexactly. ButIhaveseenniggersbeforenowasgoodasIam,andIhavenoacquaintancewithanywhitemaninthesepartsthatIconsiderawhitbetterthanmyself. Now,inthesightofGod,whatisthedifference,Epps,betweenawhitemanandablackone?" 

           "Allthedifferenceintheworld,"repliedEpps. "Youmightaswellaskwhatthedifferenceisbetweenawhitemanandababoon. Now,I’veseenoneofthemcrittersinOrleansthatknowedjustasmuchasanyniggerI’vegot. You’dcallthemfellercitizens,Is’pose?"—andEppsindulgedinaloudlaughathisownwit. 

           "Lookhere,Epps,"continuedhiscompanion;"youcan’tlaughmedowninthatway. Somemenarewitty,andsomeain’tsowittyastheythinktheyare. Nowletmeaskyouaquestion. AreallmencreatedfreeandequalastheDeclarationofIndependenceholdstheyare?" 

           "Yes,"respondedEpps,"butallmen,niggers,andmonkeysain’t;"andhereuponhebrokeforthintoamoreboisterouslaughthanbefore. 

           "Therearemonkeysamongwhitepeopleaswellasblack,whenyoucometothat,"coollyremarkedBass. "Iknowsomewhitementhatuseargumentsnosensiblemonkeywould. Butletthatpass. Theseniggersarehumanbeings.