Well, feel this, why don't you? Feel how it feels to have a bed to sleep in and somebody there not worrying you to death about what you got to do each day to deserve it. Feel how that feels. And if that don't get it, feel how it feels to be a colored woman roaming the roads with anything God made liable to jump on you. Feel that.
The quote from Toni Morrison's "Beloved" emphasizes the emotional weight of security and the struggle for freedom. It invites the reader to consider the comfort of having a safe place to sleep and the absence of pressure to constantly prove oneself. This sense of stability is deeply contrasted with the anxiety and fear faced by marginalized individuals, particularly colored women, who are vulnerable to various dangers in the world.
Morrison's words challenge the audience to empathize with the lived experiences of those who face systemic oppression and daily threats. By urging readers to "feel" these realities, the quote highlights the importance of understanding and recognizing the traumas that affect different communities, fostering a deeper awareness of social injustices and personal struggles.