Toni Morrison: Crash Course Black American History #48

Today, Clint Smith will teach you about the legendary writer Toni Morrison. Morrison is best known for her novels which chronicle the experiences of Black Americans throughout history. She was the first Black American Woman to win a Nobel Prize for Literature.
Clint's book, How the Word is Passed is available now! bookshop.org/b...
Want to learn more about Toni Morrison's work? Check out these videos from Crash Course Literature:
Slavery, Ghosts, and Beloved: Crash Course Literature 214: • Slavery, Ghosts, and B...
Sula: Crash Course Literature 309: • Sula: Crash Course Lit...
VIDEO SOURCES
Michelle Alexander, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (New York: New Press, 2010).
Nellie Y. McKay, ed. Critical Essays on Toni Morrison (Boston: G.K. Hall & Co., 1988).
Philip Page, Dangerous Freedom: Fusion and Fragmentation in Toni Morrison’s Novels (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1995).
Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am. Directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. June 21, 2019.
www.archives.g...
Watch our videos and review your learning with the Crash Course App!
Download here for Apple Devices: apple.co/3d4eyZo
Download here for Android Devices: bit.ly/2SrDulJ
Crash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing up at / crashcourse
Thanks to the following patrons for their generous monthly contributions that help keep Crash Course free for everyone forever:
Katie, Hilary Sturges, Austin Zielman, Tori Thomas, Justin Snyder, DL Singfield, Amelia Ryczek, Ken Davidian, Stephen Akuffo, Toni Miles, Steve Segreto, Kyle & Katherine Callahan, Laurel Stevens, Stacey Gillespie (Stacey J), Burt Humburg, Allyson Martin, Aziz Y, DAVID MORTON HUDSON, Perry Joyce, Scott Harrison, Mark & Susan Billian, Alan Bridgeman, Rachel Creager, Breanna Bosso, Matt Curls, Jonathan Zbikowski, Jennifer Killen, Sarah & Nathan Catchings, team dorsey, Trevin Beattie, Eric Koslow, Jennifer Dineen, Indika Siriwardena, Jason Rostoker, Shawn Arnold, Siobhán, Ken Penttinen, Nathan Taylor, Les Aker, William McGraw, ClareG, Rizwan Kassim, Constance Urist, Alex Hackman, Jirat, pineapples of solidarity, Katie Dean, Wai Jack Sin, Ian Dundore, Justin, Mark, Caleb Weeks
__
Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?
Facebook - / youtubecrashcourse
Twitter - / thecrashcourse
Instagram - / thecrashcourse
CC Kids: / crashcoursekids

[@LikelyToBeEatenByAGrue]

She truly was an extraordinary person and writer. She lectured at my university twice while I was there and it remains two of my favorite memories from that time. Such a powerful, insightful, and loving lady.

[@kayhanserdar]

The day I read "Beloved" was the day I seriously started reading and researching about Black America and I have not stopped doing so since. Toni Morrison is a legend and "Beloved" a masterpiece. I remember crying the day she left us. Thank you for posting this video.

[@angrychickadee4456]

Toni Morrison's writing was a brutal confrontation to my own biases and I'm forever grateful to her for it

[@Electric62Kid]

I’ve commented on here since Episode 1. I now teach American History at a community college. I’ve selected 4 videos from this series to be part of extra credit projects for my students that are looking for ways to help their grade. I want them to write about something meaningful. And there’s no other current educational work that compares.

[@Harlem1mentality]

Your not the only one. my professor at Southern New Hampshire University use these videos as well

[@Lulu2u]

Big think is pretty good too!

[@phomo561]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@KSP30]

Yup❤

[@JaimeNyx15]

I still have a lot of Morrison to get through, but Jazz might be have the most intricately crafted diction I've ever had the pleasure of reading. She's absolutely one of the Greats.

[@CSunny_]

HAVE YOU GOTTEN THROUGH "LOVE" YET!

[@gloryhound]

I'm mixed-race and went through a phase where I'd rejected and outright denied my West African heritage. I was really out there living that outdated "tragic" trope! When I was assigned "The Bluest Eye" I didn't even want to read it. I'll always be grateful that I did. Mirroring the world that wrongfully discarded Pecola I foolishly dismissed my heritage and Morrison's work. I really thought I'd be happier if I had a smaller nose and "good" hair and light eyes but thanks to Morrison I learned better. I'd say Toni Morrison changed my life but that's a disservice to her name b/c she changed the world.

[@TheRexisFern]

Thank you for adding in such personal sentiment for a monumental and world-changing person.

[@Abstract_CeeJay]

I remember doing a whole project about Toni Morrison in elementary school where everyone else took up Rosa Parks, Malcom X, and MLK Jr. She truly is and will forever be such a positive influence in my life with what I learned.

[@loravura4782]

I read The Bluest Eye as in high school. AP Lit. Devastating and difficult, especially at that age, but I'm glad to have read it.

[@Latnii]

Beloved and Sula were books I was recommended by my high school teacher after we read the bluest eye. It has long since left a large mark on me as a reading and writer myself and I still regard Sula as my favorite novel. She was truly the best of humanity.

[@lakrids-pibe]

I'm neither black nor american, but I love this series.

[@reginas.8533]

Thank you for this extremely educational video! This series is teaching me more than school has, and makes my world a lot bigger.

[@reliablevariable1615]

My one course that included Songs of Solomon had me update my major to English in college! I really do believe reading the book, not only once, but twice had changed the course of my thinking from observation to being a critical thinker. I've applied that to my life since.

[@LA12901]

Clint and all the Complexly team, thank you for making these videos. I'm learning so much and it being delivered with such profundity by Clint really draws my attention in with each video. I can't say I have ever heard of the late Ms. Morrison, but she was clearly a very special person and I'm so glad you got to share a room with her.

[@nomaybeyes5681]

THIS IS THE EPISODE I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR 😫😫😫

[@manufacturedfear]

I read The Bluest Eye during my career in English literature. I was shocked by the story. Everyone should read it to see how far the consequences of social prejudices and aesthetic impositions, especially those related to racial features, can reach.

[@britonyabanks]

Toni Morrison is EVERYTHING!!

[@arcticpopsicle3033]

Lorain resident here! She actually has an elementary school named after here! It's not one I went to, BUT! It is here! :)

[@AimeeRose22]

I adore Toni Morrison’s works. Such a great American talent!! Thank you for this episode!

[@rayannab2314]

I am currently reading Beloved! This was perfect timings. Thanks for all the videos. Especially ones like this.

[@jnetbeams]

And yet her work was never shared with us in school. Thank you for sharing this. I plan to add her writings to my reading list.

[@12oshinko]

This was the first time I'd heard of Clint Smith. I became curious because of a tiny vowel sound at about 00:54 Clint has the lightest ghost of a New Orleanian accent. After noticing that sound, I listened a few more times. There are other clues if you know what to listen for. Awesome material and a captivating narrator.

[@StephySon]

Then I cannot wait to hear what he has to say about Katrina

[@simshill295]

This program is amazing as it provides an excellent education … The segment on Toni Morrison was a gift to treasure. Thank you

[@oconnorkevin]

Thank you for this series. It has taught me so much. The Thierry Henry poster is the icing on the cake!

[@countryboi]

This is a story I never thought about it, This is amazing

[@tigerclements5731]

im learning about her in uni at the moment (specifically analysing beloved) and i love this video so much

[@KaraToNihongo]

crash Course is such a blessing.

[@djbslectures]

Beautifully written episode. A brilliant tribute

[@Davlavi]

This channel deserves way more views. Keep up the great videos.🙏🙏

[@griffins-c4892]

This video is incredibly good. The writing, the delivery, and even his voice are all perfect

[@kairyumina6407]

Here again to say this is my favorite crashcourse content produced to date! Keep it up!

[@Just2gofoods]

I remember seeing Beloved in the movie theater and rented the movie last year-watched it again. I would have wanted to meet Toni Morrison in person, excellent writer!

[@rasilryan6053]

Love your content and your ability to present information in an abbreviated manner, yet informative. Thank you.

[@trevorames889]

Amazing. Thank you for the show.

[@1KingFisher]

I just finished the bluest eye and I can’t stop thinking about it. I’m not black but I think everyone has a reason that we want to be more accepted by society. It’s such a touching story that more people should read.

[@soliloquylove2115]

Watching this makes me cry. She was so very awesome and bad ***!

[@binbin9196]

Loved this video. Thanks for bringing my attention to it on Twitter. So well done.

[@DanTheYoutubeAddict]

It is a shame that more people can't read her books because others have decided to ban them for unreasonable, racist reasons. I haven't had the chance to read any of her books, but I am a strong proponent of allowing people to publish and read what they want free of bans, Morris included.

[@StephySon]

@@ininanoir there has recently been a racist backlash to how race is taught in schools and many states have decided to ban books about black history and by notable black authors including Toni

[@301Apollo]

Feels great to see my old english teacher here

[@Lightly_Saltyago]

Welp this episode put a big knot in my throat. ❤ That’s a badass lady.

[@LBG.2135]

excellent I love your personal experiences combined with their poetic descriptions - it really brings her work to & legacy to life

[@lf1496]

"The Bluest Eye" is more true now than ever before. Watching the plethora of black women wearing blond wigs blue contact lenses celebrities in public no doubt is astounding. This self hatred is surprisingly stubborn and that is why black folks were so critical of this work. Denial is real. Her book "A Mercy" that shows America before it was even America is a must read. I've read all of her books and she's like a medium, bringing the real lives of souls out of the shadows. A Genius she and Gabriel Garcia Marquez are my favourite writers.

[@stephaniehendricks3537]

Awesome series from crashcourse!

[@zguccc8607]

From India really great Chanel Thanku Go on sir...

[@jonathanstevenelliottejeda2834]

Awesome thanks

[@epicepicenter715]

Stunning and brave

[@JLW26_]

I read Tar Baby and Song of Solomon over the summer and really enjoyed both of em

[@Itsunclegabby]

She was from my home town.

[@CocoLove70]

Thank you

[@tonyb.1905]

Great video/documentary!!!

[@lynsiefalco9055]

Thank you @Clint Smith for this excellent video - I am currently using this content in my high school English courses; I have a question, at the 1:10 minute mark, there is a panel of images of wonderful African American writers (Baldwin, Wheatley, Hughes, Douglass, Hurston, Wells); I am not sure who the woman is pictured in the top, right-hand corner - would you be able to confirm?

[@justinkimble4654]

Thanks for this information very informative 💯

[@jonayoung6214]

I love these

[@lamargettens2370]

You should do a crash course on black Sororities and fraternity

[@Sooboogiefaithfoodandinspo]

Oooh nice idea

[@williambilyeu9801]

Library of America issued a collection of "Speeches & Writings" by Frederick Douglass on 11 October 2022.

[@blake46long]

10:30-10:45: Channels Morrison with his prose.

[@ariannawright7586]

:/ this made me so emotional

[@GCHR1991]

"Hiding like thieves in the night from life Illusions of oasis making you look twice". blackstarr used her quote in their song ayee

[@stax6092]

Good video as always.

[@knicksfule]

Morrison is among the 3 greatest American novelists alongside and not below Melville and Faulkner

[@terryr.1243]

Toni Morrison was one of those African American writers that made me feel really proud to be Black; I was more INTO Sonia Sanchez then and was ENTHRALLED with her/their speaking. AGAIN (!!!); I SEARCH 'N SEARCH THE ENTIRE INTERNET FOR THE NEXT EPISODE OF THESE AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES SERIES. I often wonder; WILL THIS SERIES BE USED TO COMPENSATE ALL THESE WHO WANT TO REWRITE HISTORY AND MAKE AFRICAN-AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY LESS IMPORTANT. I worry about Mississippi AND NOW FLORIDA (Gov. Ron Desantis' comments ), ...and other states where they degrade African-Americans and NOT teach slavery in schools (You ought to see how many WHITE kids I've encountered that are more pissed-off than embarrassed ABOUT HOW AMERICAN HISTORY IS BEING WHITEWASHED FOR THE SAKE OF MAKING "OLDER" WHITE LESS ASHAMED OF BLACK SLAVERY HISTORY.)

[@StephySon]

Amen

[@SilentGlaceon94]

Oof, the next episode will no doubt be one of, if not the heaviest episode. If you watched "When the Levees Broke", you'd understand.

[@BaldingClamydia]

11:10 That's how to love yourself!

[@niabelizaire3596]

I 💙 The Bluest Eye!

[@Rocket_Man]

Thanks brutha

[@bbrev106]

[@lolakepi]

Greetings from Paris and from global Black family

[@reubenfevrier2349]

and to think certain institutions in Florida has banned her books….

[@SiddharthaGhosh-f6t]

Message to crash course : Chanell regarding Indian or English history would be great as well - Not much representations for Indian's out of India in the wider world

[@summerboyce2387]

❤❤❤

[@leonjacobs3426]

Thandie newton stopped using her Hollywood name a while back. Thandiwe Nashita

[@justanotherspaceguy]

do you do any space videos?

[@crashcourse]

we have a whole series on Astronomy! kzbin.info/aero/PL8dPuuaLjXtPAJr1ysd5yGIyiSFuh0mIL

[@justanotherspaceguy]

@@crashcourse oh thanks!

[@life_in_dallas554]

First like ❤

[@ratnadipabiswas1999]

🤍🤍🤍

[@tuddley]

Is it February already?

[@StephySon]

I sadly never read her works in school. Now I will read them all Breaks my heart racists are pushing schools to ban her books

[@OtherworldlyTV]

❤