“Slavery is the price I paid for civilization, and the choice was not with me.”

"Slavery is the price for civilization and the choice was not with me."-Zora Neale Hurtson. According to my level of understanding..I think Zora is stating that she paid civilization's price by being a slave. "the choice was not with me." this part of the quote means she had no choice...she was forced into slavery.

Explanation:

In her quote, Zora Neale Hutson states that she assisted civilization with her labor in slavery, and in the second part of her quote..."and the choice was not with me." she indirectly stated that, should she have been given the honor to decide, she would have chosen another path. Zora was forced into slavery-against her will- and she worked for her masters..with the dim hope of one day earning her freedom.