Son, you can’t go around painting yourself black, you hear?” “Why not, Papa?” “Because they’ll take you away.” “Why?” “Because you shouldn’t want to be like black people or Jewish people or anyone who is…not us.” “Who are Jewish people?” “You know my oldest customer, Mr. Kaufmann? Where we bought your shoes?” “Yes.” “Well, he’s Jewish.” “I didn’t know that. Do you have to pay to be Jewish? Do you need a license?” ….. “…you’ve got beautiful blond hair and big safe blue eyes. You should be happy with that; is that clear?

Son, you can’t go around painting yourself black, you hear?” “Why not, Papa?” “Because they’ll take you away.” “Why?” “Because you shouldn’t want to be like black people or Jewish people or anyone who is…not us.” “Who are Jewish people?” “You know my oldest customer, Mr. Kaufmann? Where we bought your shoes?” “Yes.” “Well, he’s Jewish.” “I didn’t know that. Do you have to pay to be Jewish? Do you need a license?” ….. “…you’ve got beautiful blond hair and big safe blue eyes. You should be happy with that; is that clear?

– Markus Zusak –

The Book Thief

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