Toni Morrison was born Chloe Ardelia Wofford in Lorain, OH on February 18th, 1931. In her early life she was taught fables and songs from Black culture, which left a lasting impression on her. She also learned early on about racial discrimination in her semi-integrated community. Perhaps she escaped prejudices of the world by turning to her studies. Morrison participated in several high school extracurriculars including debate team and yearbook club.
At the age of 12, Morrison converted to Catholicism and took the name Anthony for Saint Anthony of Padua upon being baptized. This resulted in the nickname "Toni" later in life.
After earning a bachelors and a masters in English Literature, Morrison was employed at Random House as an editor and critic. As an editor, Morrison worked with influential Black authors such as Toni Cade Bambara, Henry Dumas, Angela Davis, Huey P. Newton, Muhammad Ali, and Gayle Jones. She intentionally sought to uplift Black fiction and Black voices.
“I look very hard for Black fiction because I want to participate in developing a canon of Black work…where Black people are talking to Black people.”
(Morrison, as cited in Brittanica, n.d.)
Although Morrison was a prolific writer later in life, she was most well-known for The Bluest Eye (1970) and Beloved (1987). The Bluest Eye was Morrison's first novel, published when she was 39.
In 1993, Morrison became the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.
In 1999, Beloved was adapted into a feature movie staring Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover, which can be checked out from Bierce Library and from Wayne.
Works Cited
Alexander, K. L. (2019) "Toni Morrison." National Women's history Museum. : American author." African American Literature.
Britannica. (n.d.) "Toni Morrison: American author." African American Literature.
Dawes, K. (2022). Toni Morrison. Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia.
Roynon, T. (2019). "Toni Morrison: American Literary giant made it her life's work to ensure that black lives (and voices) matter." The Conversation.
