Rion Amilcar Scott Quotes & Sayings

I put my hand on a bishop, my would be assassin, and thought of my father's heights when he won, how he galloped around. The depths of his despair at losing, I expected, would be equal to the peaks. He'd mope about, his face fallen and miserable, his posture stooped as if his back ached. I took my hand from the piece and leaned back in deliberation. — Rion Amilcar Scott

They both wore flat, creased faces that looked like abused rubbery masks. — Rion Amilcar Scott

I'm sorry. It feels like the moment calls for some humor. You're ranting and dressed like Elmo.

The Cookie Monster.

Whatever, Rashid — Rion Amilcar Scott

I put it in my basement in a briefcase where I kept things I wanted no one to find. After a while I forgot the code and couldn't even get back into the briefcase if I wanted to. — Rion Amilcar Scott

Peacefulness, she realized, was synonymous with vulnerability. — Rion Amilcar Scott

Now hold on, little girl, my father said. Chess is like real life. The white pieces go first so they got an advantage over the black pieces. — Rion Amilcar Scott

Some shit I got to say to you, I won't even try to say 'cause there ain't no words for it. — Rion Amilcar Scott

If vanity were a religion, he'd be a fundamentalist. — Rion Amilcar Scott

Have you even fucked her yet? Been with her how long and you ain't even hit that? You must be gay, man. You the only one that ain't hit it. He a virgin, that's why he be throwing rocks at people. Man, that don't even make no sense, Casey said. It's from the Bible, Kwayku replied. He who is without sin can cast the first stone. — Rion Amilcar Scott

Walter noticed the blue Cookie Monster head resting on the floor, From some angles, the smiling open mouth looked like an expression of abashed joy, from others it resembled horror. — Rion Amilcar Scott

When I started at Freedman's, during orientation, a speaker who was an alumna and board member talked of sitting in economics class next to a shy young man with a thick West African accent. They struck up a friendship, she said, pausing to wink and nod, which I took as an insinuation of a more intimate relationship. The woman ended the story with his name, and I recognized it as the name of the warlord-turned-dictator-for-life of a small African republic. We were supposed to be impressed by the prominence of our alums, and at the same time we were encouraged to wonder what sort of world-shaker sat beside us. One day the dictator will be overthrown and executed or tried in The Hague for crimes against humanity. — Rion Amilcar Scott

Each week, I volunteered at K.I.D.S. Community Center in the McCoy neighborhood on the Southside. I forget what the letters stood for, but it could have been Khaotic, Ineffective, and Detrimental Supervision. — Rion Amilcar Scott

I tried to imagine what Jesus had said to woo that young slut, the first nun. — Rion Amilcar Scott

How we diminished her and in turn ourselves. Turned parts of her body into heavy burdens to carry. Watching. Tittering (we no longer laughed, from then on it was tittering). Commenting. Losing our composure. Falling in love, developing obsessions, and growing resentful when our shallow affections were ignored. — Rion Amilcar Scott

White Jesus's arms were long, his muscles defined. He looked sad, though. He had never had sex, like me. Never masturbated to relieve the tension, because that was a sin and he was sinless. Never watched naked women writhe about on Cinemax or whatever the ancient equivalent of that was. Just what did he discuss with those whores? With the one he loved but never fucked? What did he do with all that yearning? — Rion Amilcar Scott