Gorgeous essay with so many saliant points. I would only push back on the Cannonball pod. There absolutely should've been a black woman on the pod, youre so right. And I think 2/3 of the attendants had a real grasp and deep love for the material. However, I thought the thesis/title of the episode was mostly ragebaity. They acknowledge that Morrison is still somehow underrated; and I think elevating her to some sort of deity undermines her genius for excavating, with surgical precision, the depths of our humanity. Thank you for this essay Ira. It was better than the podcast 😆
"In a moment when illiteracy is the weapon of our oppressors, how inspiring it is to be able to discuss literature! At parties!" Brilliant, Ira, and so touching. +They+ want us to think that literature and art are trifles of the elite. That's their great lie and long has been. It's tragic how well it's worked.
This was great for many reasons, but I really appreciated the August Wilson history lesson as I was not familiar with that play. Interesting to see how it ties to Sinners.
"...not to be too woo woo," but I regularly scroll past alerts to your posts because my inbox is overflowing with alerts about great things I want to read. Today I saw August Wilson and Toni Morrison's names, and the first paragraph mentioned Viola Davis (another personal hero), so instead of doing my work, I stopped. I'm so glad I did. Thank you for this thoughtful and deeply moving article. I discovered Toni Morrison in my late teens in the 70's and read everything she wrote after that. Every one of her books humbled me. Made me weep, laugh, bow in awe of her brilliance, and the strength of her characters. She opened the eyes of this sheltered white girl who was sympathetic but clueless. I bristle at the idea that people would minimize her incredible contribution to American literature. That doesn't mean she's perfect, but in my eyes she's in the pantheon along with Wilson, Faulkner, O'Connor, and Williams.
This is very beautiful and important, Ira. I read Sula a few weeks ago and felt and thought so much during every moment of it. I'm very fresh in the Toni Morrison appreciation cohort and so the Cannonball podcast extremely annoyed me. I appreciated how well your piece dissected the weird vibes it gave off, specifically your piece's thorough manner brought out the specifics that made up an underlying hostility in the podcast's framing.
In particular, its shocking how Weiss has airtime when she doesn't understand a basic plot point of the book, and decides to chalk it up to a flaw of Morrison rather than their own limitations. Perhaps, like most readers faced with something they're uncertain with, she would have benefited from reading the Sula analysis and guides others have created. Rigor is the prerequisite of any critique if it hopes to be of any merit
I also really appreciated how you tied all these goings on with Black art. Its quite important to take this snapshot in time, as it happens, and deepen it with a consideration of what all of those things happening concurrently mean, especially what it says about the people involved.
Beautiful piece, Ira. Thank you. A school I work at was giving away some free books from their library a couple of months ago and I snagged a copy of Sula on a whim. Putting it next on my to-read list after reading this!
Great stuff, Ira. I've had that podcast episode in my playlist for awhile and haven't really wanted to listen - I'm actually kind of off WM at the moment. Don't know what it is but something feels off about his criticism lately. Anyway, now I don't have to listen!
I really love the way you weave all these discourses together here. Intertextuality is a sign of being well-read, which as you say, is becoming rarer every day. Anyway, bravo!!!
Thank you for this - beautifully written!
Gorgeous essay with so many saliant points. I would only push back on the Cannonball pod. There absolutely should've been a black woman on the pod, youre so right. And I think 2/3 of the attendants had a real grasp and deep love for the material. However, I thought the thesis/title of the episode was mostly ragebaity. They acknowledge that Morrison is still somehow underrated; and I think elevating her to some sort of deity undermines her genius for excavating, with surgical precision, the depths of our humanity. Thank you for this essay Ira. It was better than the podcast 😆
Another truly great piece that I feel smarter after reading. I’ve only read The Bluest Eye—you’ve inspired me to widen my Morrison reading.
Your writing is such a gift. Love reading your thoughts on here!
"In a moment when illiteracy is the weapon of our oppressors, how inspiring it is to be able to discuss literature! At parties!" Brilliant, Ira, and so touching. +They+ want us to think that literature and art are trifles of the elite. That's their great lie and long has been. It's tragic how well it's worked.
This is beautiful and needed, Ira.
Phenomenal.
This was great for many reasons, but I really appreciated the August Wilson history lesson as I was not familiar with that play. Interesting to see how it ties to Sinners.
"...not to be too woo woo," but I regularly scroll past alerts to your posts because my inbox is overflowing with alerts about great things I want to read. Today I saw August Wilson and Toni Morrison's names, and the first paragraph mentioned Viola Davis (another personal hero), so instead of doing my work, I stopped. I'm so glad I did. Thank you for this thoughtful and deeply moving article. I discovered Toni Morrison in my late teens in the 70's and read everything she wrote after that. Every one of her books humbled me. Made me weep, laugh, bow in awe of her brilliance, and the strength of her characters. She opened the eyes of this sheltered white girl who was sympathetic but clueless. I bristle at the idea that people would minimize her incredible contribution to American literature. That doesn't mean she's perfect, but in my eyes she's in the pantheon along with Wilson, Faulkner, O'Connor, and Williams.
Wonderful piece, Ira! First read Sula a few years ago, and think of it often.
This is very beautiful and important, Ira. I read Sula a few weeks ago and felt and thought so much during every moment of it. I'm very fresh in the Toni Morrison appreciation cohort and so the Cannonball podcast extremely annoyed me. I appreciated how well your piece dissected the weird vibes it gave off, specifically your piece's thorough manner brought out the specifics that made up an underlying hostility in the podcast's framing.
In particular, its shocking how Weiss has airtime when she doesn't understand a basic plot point of the book, and decides to chalk it up to a flaw of Morrison rather than their own limitations. Perhaps, like most readers faced with something they're uncertain with, she would have benefited from reading the Sula analysis and guides others have created. Rigor is the prerequisite of any critique if it hopes to be of any merit
I also really appreciated how you tied all these goings on with Black art. Its quite important to take this snapshot in time, as it happens, and deepen it with a consideration of what all of those things happening concurrently mean, especially what it says about the people involved.
Beautiful piece, Ira. Thank you. A school I work at was giving away some free books from their library a couple of months ago and I snagged a copy of Sula on a whim. Putting it next on my to-read list after reading this!
So so good!
Great stuff, Ira. I've had that podcast episode in my playlist for awhile and haven't really wanted to listen - I'm actually kind of off WM at the moment. Don't know what it is but something feels off about his criticism lately. Anyway, now I don't have to listen!
I really love the way you weave all these discourses together here. Intertextuality is a sign of being well-read, which as you say, is becoming rarer every day. Anyway, bravo!!!
in your bag with this one
Thank you for this. I don’t know why Wesley didn’t have Namwali Serpell on the podcast.