توني موريسون وديناميات العلاقات العرقية

Abstract

Our article examines the concept of “race” as frequently linked to hereditary qualities manifested in visible physical distinctions and explore its implications within African American literary traditions. We comment upon the historical and social focus that characterizes this literary canon, particularly in the works of Toni Morrison, whose novels aim to reaffirm and protect human dignity. Inspired by history, Morrison’s narrative project seeks to rewrite the past, not to stir resentment, but to foster unity among races and ethnic groups. Our analysis focuses on such novels as Song of Solomon, Beloved, Paradise, and A Mercy, which depict the dehumanization of Black individuals by whites, driven by the quest for profit and resulting in class struggle. We highlight how Morrison brings to light the silenced Black narratives within white-dominated histories. Her work is marked by a unique narrative texture, lyrical density, and an intentional representation of the African-American experience as a lens to explore universal human themes. We argue that Morrison’s formal and thematic choices are rooted in an African-American tradition aimed at preserving cultural heritage while transcending the legacy of oppression through myth and the supernatural. Ultimately, we demonstrate that her work is a culmination of vernacular richness and a profound statement on humanity.