In honour of the acclaimed Toni Morrison, this course introduces you to aspects of her rich biography as well as some of her fiction and non-fiction. It will give you the chance to explore and/or revisit this writer’s life, her deep imagination, stellar use of language and also her opinions and generous wisdom.

Toni Morrison became the first Black and African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize for literature in 1993 for her novel Beloved. Her work has centred on narrating the lives of Black people in American society, in their fullest complexities. Her first novel, The Bluest Eye (1970) depicts the tragedy of self-loathing through the eyes of a young black girl (Pecola) who longs for blond hair, lighter skin and blue eyes – a miracle from God – she believes might give her a sense of belonging. This book will be required reading for the introductory course, along with extracts from other works of fiction and non-fiction.

Course Aims:

Whether you are familiar with or new to Toni Morrison this course offers a chance to celebrate the life and work of a phenomenal writer. By exploring selected fiction and non-fiction works the course enables students to discuss her contributions to African-American and wider African Diasporic experiences and questions of identity.

Teaching & Learning:

This course will take place at the historic New Beacon Books and George Padmore Institute on Stroud Green Road in Finsbury Park. It will use a mixture of styles including presentations, group discussions and readings. All will be encouraged to take part in seminar discussions.

The course will take place every Tuesdays for 4 weeks starting on the 28th January 2020 and will end on Toni Morrison’s birthday 18th February 2020 (she would have been 89 years old).

Booking is essential.