Toni Morrison Interview:
Summary:
The interview starts off with Toni Morrison speaking about her book "Love" and the assimilation of blacks into the American culture. They then go on to talk about the lack of black businesses and how people are being pulled into working for larger corporations. Toni talks about the parallel between two characters in her book and the neighborhoods that they live in. Then the conversation switches to "Beloved" and the idea of this work being a masterpiece. Toni doesn't believe it is a masterpiece and she explains it as "less romanticized" than her other works and this is why it appeals to people. "Beloved" appeared to her after she quit her job and felt liberated and free from the constraints. The interview goes on to talk more about her books in depth as well as various other things.

Reflection:
One thing that Toni said that I completely can relate to is the idea that the only thing important to her is writing her books and being a good mother to her children. It was especially interesting to hear her talk about how she created her characters from people she knew and could write well and then she placed them into context. I absolutely loved that she considered all of her characters winners because of their experiences in which they learn something of great value. It is this that makes them a winner and not necessarily the character they are in the book. Her advice about writing and the little things to remember was things that teachers have told me for years but I never actually believed. It was interesting to see her talk about her writer/celebrated self verses the person she knows who is just the writer. She believes she hasn't yet done her best work which is something that is very admirable. I hope that someday I can be so certain that I can do better work than I am doing.

Reaction:
This interview relates in many ways to what I am learning in many of my classes. I have just gotten into African American stories in my short story class and they seem to have similarities to Toni's works. She compares her male and female characters which is what I just finished crafting in a paper. She says that her mind is what makes her interesting and it is not her life. "Her heart, soul, and skill" is what makes her who she is and the great writer she is. This makes me really think about who I am and whether or not it is my life that is interesting or my mind, or neither. Toni Morrison seems like a truly wise woman who you would learn a great deal from. She could read to me for hours...


Questions:
1) Do people always write what they know? Does this create the best works?
2) Does creating characters that are winners make for better stories?
3) Do you think your life is interesting... or is it your mind?