Some of you grieved hard for Nipsey, while others held on to Tupac. Some are still in shock and devastated by the loss of Aaliyah and Left Eye. Today, I grieve for my mother, a literary God. A genius met her end.
Her name was Toni Morrison, and in my despair, she was always my friend. At 15 I read “Tar Baby,” understanding that Blackness was essence not rage. When full lips and melanin were distorted, it showed me the power of the literary stage. Then I read “Sula,” “Beloved” and “Songs of Solomon,” which strengthened my need to read. Leading with the pen, which I know is truly God, for years her prophetic words were my feed. She spoke boldly about miscegenation and hit hard on women’s issues today. Mothers can’t care for their own children and Ms. Morrison’s words would never play. She was vocal about the effects of slavery, talking about Black men without any shame.
Mother Morrison was definitely my “she-ro” and I will never forget her name. I remember laying in bed reading her stories as a woman had to take her children’s life. I remember tears rolling down my face because I knew real people experienced this type of strife. Today, we have lost a giant Queen Mother of the Pen. In my times of despair, Ms. Morrison wasn’t just an author, but was one of my best friends. Rest in power Mother.
