One of my kids was born in 1968. There were going to be political difficulties, but they were never going to have that level of hatred and contempt that my brothers and my sister and myself were exposed to.

Quote by Toni Morrison

Topics: Toni Morrison Quotes

Black literature is taught as sociology, as tolerance, not as a serious, rigorous art form.

Black literature is taught as sociology, as tolerance, not as a serious, rigorous art form.

If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet,...

If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet,...

If you're going to hold someone down you're going to have to hold on by...

If you're going to hold someone down you're going to have to hold on by...

I wrote my first novel because I wanted to read it.

I wrote my first novel because I wanted to read it.

My children are delightful people, whom I would love even if they weren't my children.

My children are delightful people, whom I would love even if they weren't my children.

If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet,...

If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet,...

The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange...

The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange...

Some Native American writers enjoy being called Native American writers.

Some Native American writers enjoy being called Native American writers.

If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it.

If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it.

I merged those two words, black and feminist, because I was surrounded by black women...

I merged those two words, black and feminist, because I was surrounded by black women...

I remember a very important lesson that my father gave me when I was twelve...

I remember a very important lesson that my father gave me when I was twelve...

If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet,...

If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet,...

You marvel at the economy and this choice of words. How many ways can you...

You marvel at the economy and this choice of words. How many ways can you...

It's been mentioned or suggested that Paradise will not be well studied, because it's about...

It's been mentioned or suggested that Paradise will not be well studied, because it's about...

At some point in life the world's beauty becomes enough. You don't need to photograph,...

At some point in life the world's beauty becomes enough. You don't need to photograph,...

Everybody gets everything handed to them. The rich inherit it. I don't mean just inheritance...

Everybody gets everything handed to them. The rich inherit it. I don't mean just inheritance...

When there is pain, there are no words. All pain is the same.

When there is pain, there are no words. All pain is the same.

Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.

Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.

I think some aspects of writing can be taught. Obviously, you can't teach vision or...

I think some aspects of writing can be taught. Obviously, you can't teach vision or...

The body is ready to have babies. Nature wants it done then, when the body...

The body is ready to have babies. Nature wants it done then, when the body...