It’s the middle of Black History Month. Let's talk about one of my favorite authors, Toni Morrison!
Toni Morrison was born on February 18th, 1931. (Her birthday was this past Saturday!) In 1970, at the age of thirty-nine, Toni Morrison published her first novel titled “The Bluest Eye”, a novel of initiation concerning a victimized adolescent Black girl who is obsessed by white standards of beauty and longs to have blue eyes. I’ve read “The Bluest Eye” three times in my life, and I can say without a doubt that it is one of the most captivating and beautifully written books that I’ve ever read.
Morrison only wrote one short story in her lifetime. In 1983, “Recitatif” was published. The story follows two girls, Roberta and Twyla, from their initial meeting as 8-year-old roommates in a children's shelter through their adult lives. Told from Twyla's perspective, the story forces the reader to ask questions about memory, race, and childhood as the two characters grow up and live their lives.
Maybe the most important work by Morrison is a novel titled “Beloved”, released in 1987. It is considered to be one of the most important American Literature novels ever written. The novel tells the story of a dysfunctional family of formerly enslaved people whose Cincinnati home is haunted by a malevolent spirit.
On August 5th, 2019, Toni Morrison sadly passed away at the age of 88. Over the span of her career, Morrison won over 20 significant awards. Her literary impact still affects millions of readers everyday, as her works are often studied, read, and analyzed in schools. Her work is incredibly important in how we view racial injustice in the United States, and opens up conversation about how future generations can overcome generational traumas.
The next time you’re in the library…DEFINITELY pick up a Toni Morrion novel!
Stick around and tune in next Tuesday for another blog post! :)
** Are you interested in traveling abroad? Travelearn to Ireland and Scotland with the English Department!
The School of English Studies Presents SUMMER 2023, TRAVELEARN ENGLISH 3018, TRAVEL WRITING, AND EARN 3 CREDITS, MAY 22 - 31, 2023. Highlights of this International Trip include visiting historical sites like Edinburgh Castle and St. Patrick's Cathedral. The itinerary is also full of tours, including the Hidden and Haunted Tour, the Mercat Tours and a tour of the Old Library Book of Kells in Trinity College Dublin. This also includes visiting Belfast Political, Mural Tour, Titanic Belfast, and so much more!
Sounds cool? Check your email for more information!
Please do not hesitate to contact Professor Christina Mastroeni at mastroec@kean.edu or keanabroad@kean.edu for questions before or after the meeting and to register for the course. The Center for Academic Success (CAS) in Room 301 is also open if questions need to be answered in person.
Contact your Professor Christina Mastroeni! Visit English Studies in CAS Room 301 or email mastroec@kean.edu or keanabroad@kean.edu for more information.
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