"We Negro writers, just by being black, have been on the blacklist all our lives. Censorship for us begins at the color line"

In this quote, Langston Hughes, a popular African American author, highlights the battles faced by black writers in society. He describes that simply since of their race, they have actually been marginalized and discriminated against, leading to a life time of being excluded and silenced. Hughes utilizes the term "blacklist" to describe the systematic exemption of black writers from traditional literature and the literary world. He likewise mentions that censorship for black writers starts at the "color line," describing the racial divide that exists in society. This quote sheds light on the challenges dealt with by black writers and the effect of racism on their capability to freely reveal themselves.