Most of Toni Morrison’s essays address the experience and identity of African Americans. Besides, Morrison addresses class and gender inequality. In “What the Black Women thinks about Women’s Lib,” Morrison explores the source of anguish and misery bedeviling black women. Black women are subjected to depression by their masters, who employ them as house workers. Another issue that pressurizes a black woman is childbearing. In the same essay, Morrison describes how black women are perceived as worthless by society. Black women are not given priorities or privileges as their white counterparts. White women were perceived as ‘soft, modest, and helpless” while Black women were perceived as “unworthy of respect.”
In “Unencumbered Imagination,” Morrison reflects on how she wanted to live in a race-free world as a writer. Writing in a racialized society is a challenge. Initially, Morrison thought of writing about other things apart from race. However, her memory could not allow her. Indeed, Morrison confesses that she struggled with her memory whether to write about history or contemporary events. She calls this struggle “the battle between remembering and forgetting.” Living in a society dominated by whites, Morrison decided to write about the issues that affect minorities.
“On to Disneyland and the Real Unreality” is another essay by Morrison where she narrates about racial divides. Morrison describes Disneyland as a place where fantasy and deception are normalized. Metaphorically, Morrison uses her essay to castigate racial divisions in a society dominated by white people. Blacks are humiliated and persecuted, but no action is taken against the perpetrators.
