There are absolutely no words that can effectively describe the legacy, power, and wisdom of Toni Morrison. I sit here and write this article but I know my words will not do her justice so I’m just going to speak on what she did for me and what black girls can take from her life.
I was in elementary school when I brought home a self portrait from art class with blonde hair, blue eyes, and freckles. I didn’t appreciate the kinks in my hair or the richness of my skin. I saw white and thought it was right and desperately wanted to be something that would never happen. At the young age of seven years old, I was Pecola Breedlove, the main character of Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye. I wouldn’t discover the similarities until I borrowed my mom’s copy and watched the words leap from the page and form of dance of reality and relatability while simultaneously teaching me a lesson.
During her lifetime, Toni Morrison wrote books that spoke to the black experience in America. Each book took a different perspective from slavery to white standards of beauty and even the foundations of friendship. All of these stories had one thing in common, they were black as hell and written directly for us. Although some may have questioned her writing choice or even attempted to have her books banned from high school reading lists, she must’ve done something right to be awarded the Nobel Prize and the Pulitzer Prize and go down as one of the most respected and brilliant writers we’ve seen.
This woman was the definition of being unapologetically black. She took pride in her skin and experience and did her best to weave those into words for us. That’s what I want you to take away from this article. She wrote these stories for us to search within ourselves and recognize that the main characters are simply the reflection in the mirror we view each morning. If you’ve ever been scared to speak and walk in your truth, take a moment and read an excerpt from one of her books. Examine her confidence in being black and not fearing what white america has to say about it. Understand that your black art and voice is acceptable and doesn’t have to be compromised with a white agenda to win an award or reach people. She spoke, she wrote, and she was. Rest in power, Toni Morrison. We will forever preserve your legacy and use your life as an inspiration and blueprint.
