[White folks] is the reason fences was invented. I mean, take before they come here with all they bibles, do you think the Injuns had done hogged propity from one another? No ma'am, they hadn't. They didn't mind letting folks use the grass and the good earth like the lawd intended it should be. Those people over there, you give 'em a chance, they try to take our land, never mind it belong to us. They been that was since hist'ry.

Grange zu Ruth, in: Alice Walker, The Third Life of Grange Copeland (1970)

The system gives you just enough to make you think that you see change. They will sing you right to sleep, then they'll screw you just the same.

Ani DiFranco, Waiting Song (1992)