Essay Questions

How is blackness used as a symbol of poverty and suffering in 'Toni Morrison'?

In the first essay, President Bill Clinton is described as 'Black'. Bill Clinton is considered black by his opponents because he was born in a poverty-stricken family. The whites never believed that a black man deserves a good life because they knew that Clinton ate junk food and belonged to the lower socioeconomic class. In the essay 'On the Backs of Blacks,' Greek ancestry is associated with blacks, and the European whites regarded blackness as a condemnation. Throughout the essays, the reader realizes that black people are associated with poverty and suffering because white people imply that they do not deserve better.

Why does the author feel that the white society is not ready to accommodate a diverse culture in literature?

In her analysis, Morrison realizes that the black literature's capability and efforts are not appreciated in America. Most of the literary publications are initially from white authors. According to Morrison, black people are talented. They are useful in literature, but the whites think that if they accommodate the blacks, literature will be diluted, which is not the case. African-American literature is not meant to destroy the 'white protected reserve,' but it is meant to bring diversity.

What is the significance of the essay ‘Black Matters’?

The 'Black Matters' essay was published in 1990, but it depicts the ongoing reality of blacks' lives in America. In almost every aspect, including literature, African-Americans are left out because they belong to the minority group considered insignificant. The author writes this essay specifically to critique the American literature because it largely ignores African-American literature. The essay also epitomizes the blacks' struggle in American society because they are left out in almost every economic sector.