Toni Morrison Research Paper

What do you remember when you hear the word slavery? What about racism? African American? Is it revolution, civil and voting rights or equality? Everyone remembers and celebrates the days where slaves got their freedom and rights. Not many remember or appreciate the harsh journey that is an African American’s road to freedom. American author, Toni Morrison was born in Lorain, Ohio on February 18, 1931 (“Toni Morrison Biography). Her original name was Chloe Wofford, but changed it to Toni when children had trouble pronouncing it (“Toni Morrison Interview: Books, Beloved, The Bluest Eye, Essays, Influences, on writing (2001)”). While living in Lorain, Toni experienced segregation where establishments for whites and blacks were separate and Toni grew up believing that this was the right way to live (“Toni Morrison Interview: Books, Beloved, The Bluest Eye, Essays, Influences, On Writing (2001)”. Interracial couples were never considered and Toni never saw them in Lorain (Visionary Project). Morrison even recalls of a time as a child where she was not permitted to sit inside at an ice cream shop (Visionary Project). Her grandfather was a slave and her parents, George Wafford and Ella Ramah, were a part of the Great Migration (“Toni …show more content…
The only bad thing people usually say is how her ideas are very narrow (Rustin). One white woman once said how if she wanted to be more popular, she could not just write about black people (Visionary Project). She owes a great deal of her success to Oprah Winfrey who had featured four of Toni’s book in her book club (Rustin). It was not until Oprah chose The Bluest Eye as one of her books for the club that the book’s popularity soared (Valerie). Beloved’s popularity also climbed when the novel was created into a movie and Oprah starred in it (“Toni Morrison Biography”). Morrison can give her a lot of credit for her