Toni Morrison and Motherhood : A Politics of the Heart

Traces Morrison's theory of African American mothering as it is articulated in her novels, essays, speeches, and interviews.Mothering is a central issue for feminist theory, and motherhood is also a persistent presence in the work of Toni Morrison. Examining Morrison's novels, essays, speeches, and interviews, Andrea O'Reilly illustrates how Morrison builds upon black women's experiences of and perspectives on motherhood to develop a view of black motherhood that is, in terms of both maternal identity and role, radically different from motherhood as practiced and prescribed in the dominant culture. Motherhood, in Morrison's view, is fundamentally and profoundly an act of resistance, essential and integral to black women's fight against racism (and sexism) and their ability to achieve well-being for themselves and their culture. The power of motherhood and the empowerment of mothering are what make possible the better world we seek for ourselves and for our children. This, argues O'Reilly, is Morrison's maternal theory—a politics of the heart.'As an advocate of'a politics of the heart,'O'Reilly has an acute insight into discerning any threat to the preservation and continuation of traditional African American womanhood and values … Above all, Toni Morrison and Motherhood, based on Andrea O'Reilly's methodical research on Morrison's works as well as feminist critical resources, proffers a useful basis for understanding Toni Morrison's works. It certainly contributes to exploring in detail Morrison's rich and complex works notable from the perspectives of nurturing and sustaining African American maternal tradition.'— African American Review'O'Reilly boldly reconfigures hegemonic western notions of motherhood while maintaining dialogues across cultural differences.'— Journal of the Association for Research on Mothering'Andrea O'Reilly examines Morrison's complex presentations of, and theories about, motherhood with admirable rigor and a refusal to simplify, and the result is one of the most penetrating and insightful studies of Morrison yet to appear, a book that will prove invaluable to any scholar, teacher, or reader of Morrison.'— South Atlantic Review'…it serves as a sort of annotated bibliography of nearly all the major theoretical work on motherhood and on Morrison as an author … anyone conducting serious study of either Toni Morrison or motherhood, not to mention the combination, should read [this book]... O'Reilly's exhaustive research, her facility with theories of Anglo-American and Black feminism, and her penetrating analyses of Morrison's works result in a highly useful scholarly read.'— Literary Mama'By tracing both the metaphor and literal practice of mothering in Morrison's literary world, O'Reilly conveys Morrison's vision of motherhood as an act of resistance.'— American Literature'Motherhood is critically important as a recurring theme in Toni Morrison's oeuvre and within black feminist and feminist scholarship. An in-depth analysis of this central concern is necessary in order to explore the complex disjunction between Morrison's interviews, which praise black mothering, and the fiction, which presents mothers in various destructive and self-destructive modes. Kudos to Andrea O'Reilly for illuminating Morrison's'maternal standpoint'and helping readers and critics understand this difficult terrain. Toni Morrison and Motherhood is also valuable as a resource that addresses and synthesizes a huge body of secondary literature.'— Nancy Gerber, author of Portrait of the Mother-Artist: Class and Creativity in Contemporary American Fiction'In addition to presenting a penetrating and original reading of Toni Morrison, O'Reilly integrates the evolving scholarship on motherhood in dominant and minority cultures in a review that is both a composite of commonalities and a clear representation of differences.'— Elizabeth Bourque Joh TONI MORRISON and MOTHERHOOD......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 14 1. A Politics of the Heart: Toni Morrison’s Theory of Motherhood as a Site of Power and Motherwork as Concerned with the Empowerment of Children......Page 16 2. Disconnections from the Motherline: Gender Hegemonies and the Loss of the Ancient Properties: The Bluest Eye, Sula, Tar Baby......Page 62 3. Ruptures/Disruptions of the Motherline: Slavery, Migration, and Assimilation: Song of Solomon, Beloved......Page 88 4. Reconnections to the Motherline: Deliverance and Exile: Song of Solomon, Tar Baby......Page 108 5. Maternal Interventions: Resistance and Power: The Bluest Eye, Sula, Song of Solomon, Tar Baby, Beloved, Paradise......Page 132 6. Maternal Healing: Reconciliation and Redemption: Jazz, Paradise......Page 168 Conclusion......Page 186 Epilogue......Page 190 PREFACE......Page 196 1. A POLITICS OF THE HEART......Page 197 2. DISCONNECTIONS FROM THE MOTHERLINE......Page 201 3. RUPTURES/DISRUPTIONS OF THE MOTHERLINE......Page 203 4. RECONNECTIONS TO THE MOTHERLINE......Page 204 5. MATERNAL INTERVENTIONS......Page 206 6. MATERNAL HEALING......Page 209 Works Cited......Page 212 B......Page 232 C......Page 233 F......Page 234 I......Page 235 M......Page 236 N......Page 238 P......Page 239 R......Page 240 S......Page 241 T......Page 242 W......Page 243 Y......Page 244 Mothering is a central issue for feminist theory, and motherhood is also a persistent presence in the work of Toni Morrison. Examining Morrison's novels, essays, speeches, and interviews, Andrea O'Reilly illustrates Morrison builds upon black women's experiences of and perspectives on motherhood to develop a view of black motherhood that is, in terms of both maternal identity and role, radically different than the motherhood practiced and prescribed in the dominant culture. Motherhood, in Morrison's view, is fundamentally and profoundly an act of resistance, essential and integral to black women's fight against racism (and sexism) and their ability to achieve well-being for themselves and their culture. The power of motherhood and the empowerment of mothering are what make possible the better world we seek for ourselves and for our children. This, argues O'Reilly, is Morrison's maternal theory-a politics of the heart.

Author Biography: Andrea O'Reilly is Associate Professor in the School of Women's Studies at York University and President of the Association for Research on Mothering. She is the author and editor of several books on mothering, including (with Sharon Abbey) Mothers and Daughters: Connection, Empowerment, and Transformation and Mothers and Sons: Feminism, Masculinity, and the Struggle to Raise Our Sons.

TONI MORRISON and MOTHERHOOD 4 Contents 8 Preface 10 Acknowledgments 14 1. A Politics of the Heart: Toni Morrison’s Theory of Motherhood as a Site of Power and Motherwork as Concerned with the Empowerment of Children 16 2. Disconnections from the Motherline: Gender Hegemonies and the Loss of the Ancient Properties: The Bluest Eye, Sula, Tar Baby 62 3. Ruptures/Disruptions of the Motherline: Slavery, Migration, and Assimilation: Song of Solomon, Beloved 88 4. Reconnections to the Motherline: Deliverance and Exile: Song of Solomon, Tar Baby 108 5. Maternal Interventions: Resistance and Power: The Bluest Eye, Sula, Song of Solomon, Tar Baby, Beloved, Paradise 132 6. Maternal Healing: Reconciliation and Redemption: Jazz, Paradise 168 Conclusion 186 Epilogue 190 Notes 196 PREFACE 196 1. A POLITICS OF THE HEART 197 2. DISCONNECTIONS FROM THE MOTHERLINE 201 3. RUPTURES/DISRUPTIONS OF THE MOTHERLINE 203 4. RECONNECTIONS TO THE MOTHERLINE 204 5. MATERNAL INTERVENTIONS 206 6. MATERNAL HEALING 209 Works Cited 212 Index 232 A 232 B 232 C 233 D 234 E 234 F 234 G 235 H 235 I 235 J 236 K 236 L 236 M 236 N 238 O 239 P 239 R 240 S 241 T 242 U 243 V 243 W 243 Y 244