Tribute to Toni Morrison
This woman was a huge influence on me and much of what I understand about life, womanhood, art, motherhood, and race. Adair Taylor, my high school literature teacher, introduced me to her work, opening the door to many worlds that Toni Morrison wrote into being. Thank you, Adair, and rest in power, Toni Morrison.”
Elizabeth Gilbert
Toni Morrison has passed away.
My heart hurts. Her greatness was absolute. Her words changed worlds. Her work always belonged to the immortal, and her name will never be forgotten.
I bow down today to this literary giant. I was fortunate enough to meet her once — back in 1994, just after she had won the Nobel Prize.
There are two things that I remember about that meeting.
First, somebody asked her if she thought that her Nobel Prize was a gift from the universe, to make up for the pain she had recently suffered, from having her house burn down, and having lost all her papers. With simple power, she fixed the questioner with a strong gaze, and said: “The two events have nothing to do with each other. A lot of people have their homes burn down, and they are not rewarded with the Nobel Prize.”
The other thing I remember is this: Somebody asked her what it felt like to get the phone call, saying that she had won the Nobel Prize. She smiled broadly and said, “I knew right away, as soon as the phone call came in, how I would respond. I knew that this was not the time to be humble. This was the time to have an enormous party, and to celebrate with everyone I loved...at someone else’s expense.” And then she burst out laughing.
I will never forget the sheer joy and mightiness of that moment. How she took full ownership of her glory. How often do you hear a woman say, of her own achievement, “This is not the time to be humble”? She knew who she was. She knew WHAT she was. And she celebrated it. With great joy and power. Thank you, Toni Morrison, for what you gave us. We will forever celebrate you. (Photo by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, whose recent collaborative documentary of Morrison, THE PIECES I AM, is a must-see.) Rest in glory, #tonimorrison
