"In my blood there is no Jewish blood. In their callous rage, all anti-Semites must hate me now as a Jew. For that reason I am a true Russian"
- Yevgeny Yevtushenko
About this Quote
This quote by Yevgeny Yevtushenko speaks with the power of identity and how it can be figured out by others. Yevtushenko is stating that even though he does not have Jewish blood, anti-Semites still hate him as if he were Jewish. This is since of their "callous rage" and their need to dislike somebody. Yevtushenko is stating that even though he is not Jewish, he is still a real Russian since of the method he is dealt with by anti-Semites. He is stating that identity is not only identified by blood, however likewise by how others perceive and treat you. This quote speaks to the power of identity and how it can be identified by others, and how it can be used to create a sense of belonging and neighborhood.
About the Author