One of her main points is saying that racism is a moral issue because its how you think of a person just by judging their skin color. White supremacy has raised their children to “hate” certain people for reasons out of their control. Now that is a moral issue.
This was a very interesting video. I really enjoyed learning about Morrison’s experiences and processes in writing and creating her books. The moment in particular where she talks about having to imagine yourself in the situation that slaves were in was very powerful. It was also interesting to hear about the manner in which she would write characters living through incredible eras like the Jazz Age who had no idea that they were living through such a historical era, and were instead just living their ordinary lives. Likewise, the point where she talks about refusing to be a victim is very powerful, as she describes how she is above anyone who uses the construct of race to make themselves feel bigger than someone else.
This was a very interesting and engaging video to watch. I found it interesting to hear about how she wrote her novels, and how she modeled some of her characters from real people/how she developed them. I also liked hearing about how her personal experiences throughout her life influenced her ideas and therefore her writings. In addition to this, I appreciate how aware she was about perspective when writing in order not to exclude or marginalize people. Also, I found it interesting to learn how she explained racism as needing a basis to feel better than that of other people, because I think that this is definitely a true take on it and she defined it well. Over time there are changes, but it always somehow leads back to this.
Toni Morrison is genuinely a revolutionary in the literary community. Her works are genuine and beautiful in a way that many authors are unable to recreate. After watching this interview I find it fascinating that Morrison didn’t consider herself a “writer” until her third book. She specifically states “That I [Morrison] was an ill-advised woman who couldn’t say, unlike the big guys, I [Morrison] am a writer.” This mindset brings into the question the relationship of writing and femininity, and whether or not Morrison refused to view herself as a writer because of her womanhood. In fact the interviewer specifically states in the beginning that Morrison “may be the last classic American writer squared of the tradition of Poe, Melville, Twain, and Faulkner.” However, the fact remains that Morrison is a legendary author in her own right.
I think it is important how Morrison emphasized the importance of African American history and oral tradition. Jazz can reflect a lot of the emotions the African American community faces through its depiction of not only joy, but the pain and resilience during that time. Her goal was to demonstrate how Harlem played a particularly influential role in transforming art and music. She explores the themes of love, trauma, and identity in 1920’s and how that can be paralleled to the improvisational style of jazz music due to its unpredictable narrative style. The Harlem Renaissance highlights the emotional complexities of African American life through a powerful outlet of music, where people can connect on a deeper level.
I think it is so interesting how Toni Morrison wrote Sethe’s character. She was so haunted by her past that she could not comprehend that there could be good things in this world, or that she could be one of them. When Paul D tells Sethe that she is her best thing, I truly think that is the thing that Sethe desperately needed to hear. Along with this, her story “Jazz” seemed to have moved so many.
I loved Morrison’s point about unity for European immigrants, and how they acquired that. By essentially removing their identity as whatever immigrant group they actually were (e.g. German or Irish), and simply taking on the identity of white, they fit in much better with the American community. However, by doing this, it makes the system much more binary. Instead of their being German, Irish, Italian, African American, there is only Black and White. This creates a feeling of otherness for African Americans, which Morrison does a great job of pointing out.
Excellent remarks Kahil, to be othered is to be ignored and reduced to a none-being. This is critical in the I-It and I-thou relationship (Martin Buber). It is important to acknowledge the personhood and the humanity of all people, good work.
I found this video incredibly insightful, especially when Morrison discusses the concept of identity and how it’s shaped by societal perceptions. Her exploration of how marginalized voices are often silenced really resonated with me. The way she articulates the struggle to reclaim identity amid systemic oppression is both saddening and necessary. It’s fascinating to consider how her characters reflect the complexities of navigating a world that often reduces individuals to their race. Morrison’s commitment to authenticity and depth in her storytelling showcases the power of literature to challenge and change narratives about race and humanity.
I found learning about Morrison’s approach to writing and her creative methods to be an enlightening experience. One of the most powerful insights she shared was the importance of imagining yourself in the position of enslaved people. It was equally compelling to hear how she crafted characters living through significant historical moments like the Jazz Age without realizing they were part of history.
I found this interview very interesting, and I enjoyed hearing about how Morrison developed her writing career and modeled some of her characters from real people. It was amazing to see how her personal experiences throughout her life influenced what she wrote. I think that because she makes such a personal connection in her novels, that it helps make her writings more interesting and easier to follow. Just by hearing her speak about her writing techniques, I can understand why her novels are said to be so moving for her readers. Her discussion on the concept of identity is really moving and I enjoyed listening to her perspective on this topic.
I found it interesting to explore Toni Morrison’s writing techniques and creative methods. One key insight was her emphasis on empathizing with enslaved individuals. The interview provided fascinating details about her writing journey and how she drew inspiration from real people. Her personal experiences greatly influenced her work, creating a deep connection that makes her novels engaging and relatable. I also think that her message about not being a victim is powerful. She emphasizes that she rises above those who use race to feel superior.
Excellent remarks Cate, Toni really makes everyone think critically on the issue of race and racism. In one interview she states that “racism is a distortion of the psyche and a profound neurosis” and she goes on to say that “if you can only stand tall when someone else is on their knees you have a serious problem”, and I agree, good work.
I found this interview extremely compelling. I was fascinated how Toni Morrison wrote her novels. She had to place herself in the shoes of her characters to truly understand their perspective. She talked about how difficult it was to imagine a life of slavery. She writes her books not only for African Americans but for people who are curious and demanding. She is not marginalizing her readers, but uplifting them.
Even though it was not the main focus of the interview, religion was a theme that was shown during parts of the interview when discussing her books. In Toni’s famous books, she often writes about the ideals of African American spiritual religion and faith. Her characters can often be tied back to different historical or spiritual contexts. One can also argue it ties back to personal questions of identity. She reflects about her own personal past in her life as well. The different elements of the world and characters influence her ideas as well as her beliefs in her writings. The themes of religion influence the imagery and emphasize the emotion in her novels. The interview shows her perspective of religion that can be seen through her literature.
I enjoyed listening to how Toni Morrison specifically incorporated her storytelling into her novel, “jazz.” She mentions how she writes for people like her, people who share similar experiences to her and understand her struggles and breakthroughs to the fullest extent. Specifically, she aims to redefine the African American experience that exists in America while also giving a fresh perspective with poignant memories from her childhood.
I really appreciated her storytelling and her goals regarding her writing. Addressing the African American experience, as I can imagine, is vital for youth to understand the history, culture, and art of America today, and her redefinition of such made people properly educated as well as empowered with the experiences she writes about. Understanding the roots of her people, as well as ensuring nobody feels marginalized turns their experience into a foundational story that uplifts and inspires rather than one that victimizes. When she talked about feeling coherent with her writing, it really resonated in conjunction with her discussion of her voice always being silenced, as it showed that her storytelling was a way of her unique contribution of history, culture, and knowledge into the world.
Morrison’s writings have become very influential to many and have become a staple in many lives. Her writings define what many people went through and continue to go through. She finds it important to create complex characters with complex stories and lives.
Morrison is a very talented and influential writer. I really enjoyed learning about her writing process and how she imagines herself as the characters to truly understand them and learn their perspectives. She also models her character’s and their experiences off people she knew and things that she had experienced in her own life, which I found very interesting.
Tony Morrison is an incredible writer in her own right, and being able to hear about her storytelling and her literary ends was truly fascinating. It is so important, as she says, to focus on the african american experience so that the youth of today do not forget the history, art and culture that the black population founded. Her focus on this experience brought so much understanding and knowledge to many people who may have not been properly educated about such topics. Many times, we can get caught in the trap of victimizing ourself and focusing more on being the oppressed than focusing on the other side of the coin. Morrison does a terrific job of reminding us that one must turn their experience into the cornerstone from which their story uplifts others, instead of turning oneself into a victim superfluously. All in all, she is an incredible writer, and her focus on her people and trying to bring them to uplift themselves rather than victimize is truly amazing.
Samuel, outstanding remarks, you are most appropriate in asserting that it is an error to play the role of a victim, but to rechannel your thoughts and energy and refocuse to bring change to one’s own life and the lives of many others. No one should keep reliving moments of victimization. good work.
Toni Morrison’s work is incredibly significant in furthering insight into the African American experience. She uses her compelling storytelling to ensure her readers understand and feel moved by what Black Americans experienced in the 1920s, still feeling the trauma from slavery. She delves into how music, specifically jazz, formed the identities of this community.
The way she discusses the fight to reclaim one’s identity in the face of systemic oppression is not only poignant but vital to understanding the broader human experience. What’s especially thought-provoking is how Morrison’s characters embody the intricate struggles of living in a world that often defines people by their race alone. Her unwavering dedication to portraying authentic, multifaceted identities through her storytelling demonstrates the profound impact literature can have in reshaping and challenging dominant narratives surrounding race and humanity. Morrison’s insights are a powerful reminder of how art can drive social change.
Charlie, excellent remarks, it is great you recognize the profound impact that Toni Morrison has had through her literature, and yes one can bring about effective social change when it is put in an art form that everyone can understand and appreciate it on its own merit, good work.
Toni Morrison’s insights into her writing are incredibly powerful. Her ability to immerse herself with the experiences of her characters, especially when imagining the lives of slaves, reveals her empathy and creative genius. Morrison’s discussion of the Jazz Age, where characters live through history unaware of its significance, adds another layer to her story telling. Her exploration of African American history, the Harlem renaissance, and jazz music highlights the complexity of love, trauma, and identity during the 1920’s. This interview gave me a deeper appreciation for Morrison’s work, as my first experience was reading “The Bluest Eye” in high school.
John, outstanding remarks, it great that you recognize the powerful impact Toni Morrison has had on readers through her writing and the effect it has. Her writing is thought provoking. Her writing moves you to be proactive in wanting to make a difference in some way whereby the world will be made better, good work.
I found Toni Morrison’s description and commentary on her novel so interesting, and it truly made me curious to learn more and to potentially read it. I have always found the Harlem Renaissance so fascinating due to the true cultural explosion that occurred in the forms of all art and music. Art and music are such an amazing and effective way to depict humans and their lives and relationships, and I think that is what is so intriguing to me when it comes to the Harlem Renaissance and this book. I also admire the discussion of how people in this time who had experience so much racism and hardship were able to take so much pain and turn it into something beautiful. The depicting of emotions and history through art is truly a beautiful way to memorialize and process everything that a person has gone through in their life, both good and bad. I think that Toni Morrison does such a great job describing that Black Americans are such a huge part of what make up and what has always made-up American history. Their art has always been so important to our country and our learning and experiences, and I think that her words do a great job of bringing awareness to that. Overall, as a person I have always valued art and music so much as a person, and that is what so much of the Harlem Renaissance was about. We would be nothing without our history, and nothing speaks that message as well as art and music do. Therefore, I truly want to learn more about Toni Morrison, the Harlem Renaissance, and this book.
Mara, excellent remarks, it is great that you recognize the powerful impact that Toni Morrison’s writing has had. And I think it is terrific you want to no more about her and her work. She makes people think that is scholars and none-scholars alike. Her appeal and her work is universal in that her work speaks to you and makes you think on many different levels and challenges you on the issue of race, good work.
Toni Morrison was a groundbreaking author whose work explored things such as identity, race, and the complexities of human relationships. Her powerful storytelling and lyrical prose not only helped American literature but also offered important insights into the African American experience, making her a very influential figure in contemporary writing.
One of her main points is saying that racism is a moral issue because its how you think of a person just by judging their skin color. White supremacy has raised their children to “hate” certain people for reasons out of their control. Now that is a moral issue.
This was a very interesting video. I really enjoyed learning about Morrison’s experiences and processes in writing and creating her books. The moment in particular where she talks about having to imagine yourself in the situation that slaves were in was very powerful. It was also interesting to hear about the manner in which she would write characters living through incredible eras like the Jazz Age who had no idea that they were living through such a historical era, and were instead just living their ordinary lives. Likewise, the point where she talks about refusing to be a victim is very powerful, as she describes how she is above anyone who uses the construct of race to make themselves feel bigger than someone else.
This was a very interesting and engaging video to watch. I found it interesting to hear about how she wrote her novels, and how she modeled some of her characters from real people/how she developed them. I also liked hearing about how her personal experiences throughout her life influenced her ideas and therefore her writings. In addition to this, I appreciate how aware she was about perspective when writing in order not to exclude or marginalize people. Also, I found it interesting to learn how she explained racism as needing a basis to feel better than that of other people, because I think that this is definitely a true take on it and she defined it well. Over time there are changes, but it always somehow leads back to this.
Excellent response Macaylee you grasp her take of the evil social and cultural construct of racism, good work.
Toni Morrison is genuinely a revolutionary in the literary community. Her works are genuine and beautiful in a way that many authors are unable to recreate. After watching this interview I find it fascinating that Morrison didn’t consider herself a “writer” until her third book. She specifically states “That I [Morrison] was an ill-advised woman who couldn’t say, unlike the big guys, I [Morrison] am a writer.” This mindset brings into the question the relationship of writing and femininity, and whether or not Morrison refused to view herself as a writer because of her womanhood. In fact the interviewer specifically states in the beginning that Morrison “may be the last classic American writer squared of the tradition of Poe, Melville, Twain, and Faulkner.” However, the fact remains that Morrison is a legendary author in her own right.
I think it is important how Morrison emphasized the importance of African American history and oral tradition. Jazz can reflect a lot of the emotions the African American community faces through its depiction of not only joy, but the pain and resilience during that time. Her goal was to demonstrate how Harlem played a particularly influential role in transforming art and music. She explores the themes of love, trauma, and identity in 1920’s and how that can be paralleled to the improvisational style of jazz music due to its unpredictable narrative style. The Harlem Renaissance highlights the emotional complexities of African American life through a powerful outlet of music, where people can connect on a deeper level.
I think it is so interesting how Toni Morrison wrote Sethe’s character. She was so haunted by her past that she could not comprehend that there could be good things in this world, or that she could be one of them. When Paul D tells Sethe that she is her best thing, I truly think that is the thing that Sethe desperately needed to hear. Along with this, her story “Jazz” seemed to have moved so many.
I loved Morrison’s point about unity for European immigrants, and how they acquired that. By essentially removing their identity as whatever immigrant group they actually were (e.g. German or Irish), and simply taking on the identity of white, they fit in much better with the American community. However, by doing this, it makes the system much more binary. Instead of their being German, Irish, Italian, African American, there is only Black and White. This creates a feeling of otherness for African Americans, which Morrison does a great job of pointing out.
Excellent remarks Kahil, to be othered is to be ignored and reduced to a none-being. This is critical in the I-It and I-thou relationship (Martin Buber). It is important to acknowledge the personhood and the humanity of all people, good work.
I found this video incredibly insightful, especially when Morrison discusses the concept of identity and how it’s shaped by societal perceptions. Her exploration of how marginalized voices are often silenced really resonated with me. The way she articulates the struggle to reclaim identity amid systemic oppression is both saddening and necessary. It’s fascinating to consider how her characters reflect the complexities of navigating a world that often reduces individuals to their race. Morrison’s commitment to authenticity and depth in her storytelling showcases the power of literature to challenge and change narratives about race and humanity.
I found learning about Morrison’s approach to writing and her creative methods to be an enlightening experience. One of the most powerful insights she shared was the importance of imagining yourself in the position of enslaved people. It was equally compelling to hear how she crafted characters living through significant historical moments like the Jazz Age without realizing they were part of history.
I found this interview very interesting, and I enjoyed hearing about how Morrison developed her writing career and modeled some of her characters from real people. It was amazing to see how her personal experiences throughout her life influenced what she wrote. I think that because she makes such a personal connection in her novels, that it helps make her writings more interesting and easier to follow. Just by hearing her speak about her writing techniques, I can understand why her novels are said to be so moving for her readers. Her discussion on the concept of identity is really moving and I enjoyed listening to her perspective on this topic.
I found it interesting to explore Toni Morrison’s writing techniques and creative methods. One key insight was her emphasis on empathizing with enslaved individuals. The interview provided fascinating details about her writing journey and how she drew inspiration from real people. Her personal experiences greatly influenced her work, creating a deep connection that makes her novels engaging and relatable. I also think that her message about not being a victim is powerful. She emphasizes that she rises above those who use race to feel superior.
Excellent remarks Cate, Toni really makes everyone think critically on the issue of race and racism. In one interview she states that “racism is a distortion of the psyche and a profound neurosis” and she goes on to say that “if you can only stand tall when someone else is on their knees you have a serious problem”, and I agree, good work.
I found this interview extremely compelling. I was fascinated how Toni Morrison wrote her novels. She had to place herself in the shoes of her characters to truly understand their perspective. She talked about how difficult it was to imagine a life of slavery. She writes her books not only for African Americans but for people who are curious and demanding. She is not marginalizing her readers, but uplifting them.
Even though it was not the main focus of the interview, religion was a theme that was shown during parts of the interview when discussing her books. In Toni’s famous books, she often writes about the ideals of African American spiritual religion and faith. Her characters can often be tied back to different historical or spiritual contexts. One can also argue it ties back to personal questions of identity. She reflects about her own personal past in her life as well. The different elements of the world and characters influence her ideas as well as her beliefs in her writings. The themes of religion influence the imagery and emphasize the emotion in her novels. The interview shows her perspective of religion that can be seen through her literature.
I enjoyed listening to how Toni Morrison specifically incorporated her storytelling into her novel, “jazz.” She mentions how she writes for people like her, people who share similar experiences to her and understand her struggles and breakthroughs to the fullest extent. Specifically, she aims to redefine the African American experience that exists in America while also giving a fresh perspective with poignant memories from her childhood.
I really appreciated her storytelling and her goals regarding her writing. Addressing the African American experience, as I can imagine, is vital for youth to understand the history, culture, and art of America today, and her redefinition of such made people properly educated as well as empowered with the experiences she writes about. Understanding the roots of her people, as well as ensuring nobody feels marginalized turns their experience into a foundational story that uplifts and inspires rather than one that victimizes. When she talked about feeling coherent with her writing, it really resonated in conjunction with her discussion of her voice always being silenced, as it showed that her storytelling was a way of her unique contribution of history, culture, and knowledge into the world.
Morrison’s writings have become very influential to many and have become a staple in many lives. Her writings define what many people went through and continue to go through. She finds it important to create complex characters with complex stories and lives.
Morrison is a very talented and influential writer. I really enjoyed learning about her writing process and how she imagines herself as the characters to truly understand them and learn their perspectives. She also models her character’s and their experiences off people she knew and things that she had experienced in her own life, which I found very interesting.
Tony Morrison is an incredible writer in her own right, and being able to hear about her storytelling and her literary ends was truly fascinating. It is so important, as she says, to focus on the african american experience so that the youth of today do not forget the history, art and culture that the black population founded. Her focus on this experience brought so much understanding and knowledge to many people who may have not been properly educated about such topics. Many times, we can get caught in the trap of victimizing ourself and focusing more on being the oppressed than focusing on the other side of the coin. Morrison does a terrific job of reminding us that one must turn their experience into the cornerstone from which their story uplifts others, instead of turning oneself into a victim superfluously. All in all, she is an incredible writer, and her focus on her people and trying to bring them to uplift themselves rather than victimize is truly amazing.
Samuel, outstanding remarks, you are most appropriate in asserting that it is an error to play the role of a victim, but to rechannel your thoughts and energy and refocuse to bring change to one’s own life and the lives of many others. No one should keep reliving moments of victimization. good work.
Toni Morrison’s work is incredibly significant in furthering insight into the African American experience. She uses her compelling storytelling to ensure her readers understand and feel moved by what Black Americans experienced in the 1920s, still feeling the trauma from slavery. She delves into how music, specifically jazz, formed the identities of this community.
The way she discusses the fight to reclaim one’s identity in the face of systemic oppression is not only poignant but vital to understanding the broader human experience. What’s especially thought-provoking is how Morrison’s characters embody the intricate struggles of living in a world that often defines people by their race alone. Her unwavering dedication to portraying authentic, multifaceted identities through her storytelling demonstrates the profound impact literature can have in reshaping and challenging dominant narratives surrounding race and humanity. Morrison’s insights are a powerful reminder of how art can drive social change.
Charlie, excellent remarks, it is great you recognize the profound impact that Toni Morrison has had through her literature, and yes one can bring about effective social change when it is put in an art form that everyone can understand and appreciate it on its own merit, good work.
Toni Morrison’s insights into her writing are incredibly powerful. Her ability to immerse herself with the experiences of her characters, especially when imagining the lives of slaves, reveals her empathy and creative genius. Morrison’s discussion of the Jazz Age, where characters live through history unaware of its significance, adds another layer to her story telling. Her exploration of African American history, the Harlem renaissance, and jazz music highlights the complexity of love, trauma, and identity during the 1920’s. This interview gave me a deeper appreciation for Morrison’s work, as my first experience was reading “The Bluest Eye” in high school.
John, outstanding remarks, it great that you recognize the powerful impact Toni Morrison has had on readers through her writing and the effect it has. Her writing is thought provoking. Her writing moves you to be proactive in wanting to make a difference in some way whereby the world will be made better, good work.
I found Toni Morrison’s description and commentary on her novel so interesting, and it truly made me curious to learn more and to potentially read it. I have always found the Harlem Renaissance so fascinating due to the true cultural explosion that occurred in the forms of all art and music. Art and music are such an amazing and effective way to depict humans and their lives and relationships, and I think that is what is so intriguing to me when it comes to the Harlem Renaissance and this book. I also admire the discussion of how people in this time who had experience so much racism and hardship were able to take so much pain and turn it into something beautiful. The depicting of emotions and history through art is truly a beautiful way to memorialize and process everything that a person has gone through in their life, both good and bad. I think that Toni Morrison does such a great job describing that Black Americans are such a huge part of what make up and what has always made-up American history. Their art has always been so important to our country and our learning and experiences, and I think that her words do a great job of bringing awareness to that. Overall, as a person I have always valued art and music so much as a person, and that is what so much of the Harlem Renaissance was about. We would be nothing without our history, and nothing speaks that message as well as art and music do. Therefore, I truly want to learn more about Toni Morrison, the Harlem Renaissance, and this book.
Mara, excellent remarks, it is great that you recognize the powerful impact that Toni Morrison’s writing has had. And I think it is terrific you want to no more about her and her work. She makes people think that is scholars and none-scholars alike. Her appeal and her work is universal in that her work speaks to you and makes you think on many different levels and challenges you on the issue of race, good work.
Toni Morrison was a groundbreaking author whose work explored things such as identity, race, and the complexities of human relationships. Her powerful storytelling and lyrical prose not only helped American literature but also offered important insights into the African American experience, making her a very influential figure in contemporary writing.