Black History Month – Day 2
Today we honor American novelist, Toni Morrison
Model: Lauren Ligon
“Toni Morrison for me, was the embodiment of Black Girl Magic. She was grace & perseverance personified, and did not allow her circumstances, experiences, or societal constraints to stunt her growth & abilities – her art was unapologetic and she was unapologetically Black. Toni Morrison and Jaleel Campbell are a lot alike in these ways. I am so honored to be invited to be part of a project as important as this, to have the opportunity to highlight those who have walked among us and shared with us, a piece of their world. It should also be noted that the cherry on top is both Jaleel and Toni being born during Black History Month –Toni’s birthday being on the 18th, which holds a special place for me, as she shares this day with another notable Black woman in my life due of all recognition, My Mother. Black History Month goes far beyond a month, and individuals like Toni Morrison and so many more should be celebrated beyond these 28 days (29 on Leap Years); not only for their contributions to us as Black people, but for their contributions to the world. This project is to honor them & the legacies they’ve left behind to uphold and cherish. – As Salaam Alaikum (Peace Be With You)”
~ Lauren Ligon, LMSW
Toni Morrison, born February 18, 1931, was the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. She was also a Pulitzer Prize-winner and the author of 11 novels as well as several children’s books and essay collections. Among her best-known novels are The Bluest Eye, Sula, Song of Solomon, Beloved, Jazz, Love and A Mercy. “She is most noted for her examination of the female black experience “Her narratives mingle the voices of men, women, children and even ghosts in layered polyphony. Myth, magic and superstition are inextricably intertwined with everyday verities….” (nytimes.com).
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