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Toni Morrison Racial Injustice

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Toni Morrison: The Woman of Racial Justice
When an individual looks back on the Civil Rights Movement, they often remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcom X; but what about Toni Morrison? As the 1940s continued to perpetuate the idea of a divided America through segregation and racial violence, Toni was beginning to speak out through her works as a writer. Toni Morrison, who was born as Chloe Anthony Wofford, proved to be a strong supporter of the “Black is Beautiful” campaign and became an active voice for black men and women whose goal was to bring about change in a time of injustice. By including themes of racial pride, beauty, racism, and even bildungsroman in her novel, The Bluest Eye, she was and is still able to engage her readers …show more content…

Early within the story, Morrison sets the tone by having Claudia describe the way they are treated: “When we trip and fall down they glance at us; if we cut or bruise ourselves, they ask us are we crazy. When we catch colds, they shake their heads in disgust at our lack of consideration” (Morrison 10). This white treatment towards African Americans continues throughout the story and the sincerity of its depiction concludes that Morrison is most likely projecting personal experiences. Pecola wants to buy candy from a store but immediately receives a disgusted look and ill-treatment from the owner (Morrison 48-49). This racism not only perpetuates the divisions in society but also strengthens the inferiority blacks feel. Therefore, it is understandable when Pecola is so desperate for blue eyes that she prays for them for an entire year and even visits a spiritualist in order to attain something she feels will make her beautiful (Morrison 46, 173-174). Racism and white standards were commonplace in society while Toni Morrison was growing up, and by including her perspective and situation within the novel, she was able to fulfill many of the values her family instilled in her as a

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