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Do Right By Me: Exploring the Profound Themes of Toni Morrison's Masterpiece

Kendall Ward

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Published in Do Right By Me: Learning To Raise Black Children In White Spaces

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Do Right by Me: Learning to Raise Black Children in White Spaces

by Lisa M. Schab

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1488 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	194 pages

Toni Morrison's Do Right By Me is a powerful and moving novel that explores the complexities of race, identity, and family. Set in the tumultuous post-Civil War era, the novel follows the lives of three generations of African American women as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of freedom and belonging.

Plot Summary

The story begins with the arrival of Lula Ann Bridewell, a young runaway slave, in the small town of Haven, Ohio. Lula Ann quickly falls in love with a white farmer named James and gives birth to a daughter, Son. However, their interracial relationship is met with hostility from the townspeople, and James eventually abandons them.

Son grows up to be a strong and independent woman, determined to make a better life for herself and her family. She marries a black man named Robert Smith and has four children: Macon, June, Virgil, and Clydie. Son's family faces its own share of challenges, including poverty, discrimination, and violence.

As the novel progresses, we follow the lives of Lula Ann, Son, and her children as they struggle to find their place in a society that is still grappling with the legacy of slavery. Morrison explores the complexities of race, identity, and family through the experiences of these characters, creating a powerful and moving story of hope, resilience, and redemption.

Characters

Lula Ann Bridewell: A young runaway slave who falls in love with a white farmer and gives birth to a daughter, Son.
Son: Lula Ann's daughter, a strong and independent woman who marries a black man and has four children.
Macon: Son's eldest son, a successful businessman who is haunted by the guilt of his father's abandonment.
June: Son's daughter, a talented musician who struggles with addiction and mental illness.
Virgil: Son's son, a sensitive and caring man who is killed in a police shooting.
Clydie: Son's youngest daughter, a strong and resilient woman who becomes a nurse and helps to care for her family.

Themes

Do Right By Me explores a wide range of themes, including:

Race: Morrison explores the complexities of race and identity in a post-Civil War society that is still grappling with the legacy of slavery. The novel shows how race shapes the lives of the characters, from their experiences with discrimination to their struggles to find a sense of belonging.
Identity: Morrison also explores the theme of identity, as the characters struggle to define themselves in a society that is constantly trying to categorize them. The novel shows how the characters' past experiences, as well as their relationships with others, shape their sense of who they are.
Family: Family is a central theme in Do Right By Me. Morrison explores the complex dynamics of family relationships, as well as the ways in which family can both support and hinder individuals. The novel shows how the characters' family relationships shape their lives and how they ultimately find a sense of belonging.

Critical Reception

Do Right By Me has received widespread critical acclaim, with many critics praising Morrison's powerful storytelling and her exploration of complex social issues. The novel has been awarded numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award.

"Do Right By Me is a masterpiece of American literature," said critic Michiko Kakutani in The New York Times. "Morrison has created a powerful and moving story that explores the complexities of race, identity, and family in a post-Civil War society. This is a novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it."

Do Right By Me is a powerful and moving novel that explores the complexities of race, identity, and family. Morrison's masterful storytelling and her exploration of complex social issues make this novel a must-read for anyone interested in American history, literature, or the human condition.

Do Right by Me: Learning to Raise Black Children in White Spaces

by Lisa M. Schab

4.8 out of 5