Several years ago, over lunch at Le’s at The Garage in Harvard Square, weeks before the end of the spring semester, I learned that one of my law students, an African-American woman in her mid-twenties, had never read a single novel by Toni Morrison.
So very inspiring. I shared your article with my Black Authors Bookclub leader here in Cleveland, and she is considering selecting some of Toni Morrison’s books. Thanks for sharing!
"I intend to focus more of my attention on those who are behaving beautifully under completely impossible circumstances". Amen. I am doing the same. I want the light.
Toni Morrison's commentaries on her own evolution as a Black writer are instrumental to understanding the American Experience. I didn't just share her novels with my students, I shared her ruminations-on Southern white women trying to overturn a bus full of Black school children. Of the effort to force her into an artificially created box of challenged perspective. Of expecting less of her bc she was Black. Of what it meant to her when Obama was elected; the first time she felt like a 'real' American. She put it all into her work. One of the best parts of "Sula" is the opening epitaph from Tennessee Williams' "The Rose Tattoo." Might as well give IT a "girl, girl, girl" to proceed it now: "Nobody knew my rose of the world but me [...] I had too much glory. They don't want glory like that in nobody's heart."
I identify with that line and its sentiment, even as a White woman. Lupe Fiasco, a rapper and scholar teaching at MIT knows that sentiment well, too. He said something about having a "Black mind." Yeah. I've got that; it's a part of me.
So very inspiring. I shared your article with my Black Authors Bookclub leader here in Cleveland, and she is considering selecting some of Toni Morrison’s books. Thanks for sharing!
"I intend to focus more of my attention on those who are behaving beautifully under completely impossible circumstances". Amen. I am doing the same. I want the light.
That’s the part that resonated deeply for me as well.
Beautiful ❤️
And Toni Morrison—what a great place to start. Now, before she is banned.
That that student still reads literature and is willing to learn more, is victory enough in these non-literate days
Toni Morrison's commentaries on her own evolution as a Black writer are instrumental to understanding the American Experience. I didn't just share her novels with my students, I shared her ruminations-on Southern white women trying to overturn a bus full of Black school children. Of the effort to force her into an artificially created box of challenged perspective. Of expecting less of her bc she was Black. Of what it meant to her when Obama was elected; the first time she felt like a 'real' American. She put it all into her work. One of the best parts of "Sula" is the opening epitaph from Tennessee Williams' "The Rose Tattoo." Might as well give IT a "girl, girl, girl" to proceed it now: "Nobody knew my rose of the world but me [...] I had too much glory. They don't want glory like that in nobody's heart."
I identify with that line and its sentiment, even as a White woman. Lupe Fiasco, a rapper and scholar teaching at MIT knows that sentiment well, too. He said something about having a "Black mind." Yeah. I've got that; it's a part of me.
The Bluest Eye is one of my favorites. Next on my list - Sula & Beloved! Thank you!