Toni Morrison PT II

Toni Morrison: A Life of Literature and Activism

Toni Morrison was a Nobel Prize-winning American novelist, essayist, and professor, who was known for her powerful and poignant writings on the African American experience. Born on February 18, 1931, in Lorain, Ohio, Morrison's life was marked by her commitment to social justice and her determination to give voice to the marginalized and oppressed.

Early Life and Education

Morrison was born Chloe Ardelia Wofford, the second of four children to George and Ramah Wofford. Her father was a shipyard welder and her mother was a homemaker. Morrison's parents instilled in her a love of literature and music, and she began writing stories and poems at an early age. She attended Lorain High School, where she was an excellent student and was active in the school's drama club.

Morrison went on to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she studied English literature and began to develop her writing skills. She graduated from Howard in 1953 and went on to earn a master's degree in English literature from Cornell University in 1955.

Teaching and Writing Career

Morrison began her teaching career at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, where she taught English literature from 1955 to 1957. She then moved to Howard University, where she taught English literature from 1957 to 1964. During her time at Howard, Morrison began to develop her writing skills, and she published her first short story, "Recitatif," in 1983.

Morrison's first novel, "The Bluest Eye," was published in 1970 and was widely praised for its powerful and poignant portrayal of the African American experience. She went on to publish numerous novels, essays, and non-fiction books, including "Sula" (1973), "Song of Solomon" (1977), "Beloved" (1987), and "Jazz" (1992).

Awards and Recognition

Morrison received numerous awards and recognition for her work, including:

• Nobel Prize in Literature (1993)
• Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1988)
• National Book Award (1978)
• Presidential Medal of Freedom (2012)

Activism and Social Justice

Morrison was a vocal advocate for social justice and human rights, and she was particularly concerned with issues related to racism, sexism, and oppression. She was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and she served on the boards of numerous organizations, including the National Endowment for the Arts and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Personal Life

Morrison married Harold Morrison, a Jamaican architect, in 1958, and the couple had two sons, Harold and Slade. They divorced in 1964, and Morrison raised her sons as a single mother. She died on August 5, 2019, at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy of powerful and poignant writings that continue to inspire and influence writers, artists, and activists around the world.