Jeremy Williams It shouldn't baffle you. Those of us who have been awake know Amerikkka was founded and continues to operate on racism and murder.

Indeed she is Jeremy, she will always be.

@Jamel West styron is YOUR standard. But there r reasons as to y no white writer could ever match up to a Baldwin or a Morrison. I'm just not interested in explaining it anymore.

@Michael Zhu lol and Faulkner isn't writing about race!?!? Even Joyce at some point however unintentional or inadvertent is address concerns of race. I would argue that all American writing is about race and power whether the (white) writer knows it or not (including Didion and Steinbecks Travels With Charlie. Even cannery row is about race). So I'm not sure what you mean sir. However you want to avoid is just typical of non blacks. But this is exactly y no white american writer could ever be the greatest American writer. But are gonna see it differently and I understand why.

lol your opinions don't do anything about her Nobel Prize and the fact that she's considered the last of the great American classic writers.

Yep! Your comment deserves more than a thumbs up like! Absolutely astonishing woman. I wholeheartedly agree with every word you say and I can’t add. Just one thing - I hope you have listened to some more interview things - seems like you have. I can’t give links as it will move me off writing this, which is annoying as I want to recommend a short one that impressed me.

To bad she isn't up in the sky with Jesus ain't it tho

Well said!

@@trisha7029what does that mean?

I totally agree I'm so glad I found this. KZfaq has some rare jewels.

Far from it! She was a great voice for her people but she's among 2 dozen of great writers in the U.S. Half her novels were nowhere as good as the other half! Her problem was not openly recognizing the big faults of the well to do blacks and the deep racism within the black community for other people they considered inferior to them.

If she was an intellectual, half of the US was too. She was by no means an intellectual; if you came here to listen to an intellectual, it's the wrong writer. However, she was interesting and an effective communicator. The true respect is to like people for who they truly are.

@David Harmon---I appreciate anyone who has the courage to venture writing a novel. Kudos!! However, I am disgusted by anyone who purports to be well-learned yet be so grammatically ignorant. Her grammar sucks, in plain slang. For example: she said her child 'spit' up all over her manuscript. Ms Morrison should know better; that is, the past tense of "spit" is "spat"----I caught so many more grammar mistakes; such as, the butchering of subjects, verbs, pronouns and adverbs. No respect for agreement between these parts of speech. Yes, it is admirable how this author has the talent to "turn" a word, per se. But, grammar should be praised and used correctly, especially from one whose vivid imagination is a God-given gift. It is no wonder that our youth's mastering of the English language is going down the tubes.

@@aldapellegrino6712 Thousands of esteemed writers as well as novelists actually have a series of grammatical errors; in ELA, you are taught how to spell. Prose, analysation, comprehension, pronouns, prefixes and suffixes not so much grammar. If so it is you and I. Stephen King, Alan Moore, Steinbeck, Shakespeare, Chaucer, Edgar Allan Poe, James Baldwin, and etcetera have all had several grammatical errors; allegedly on purpose. As far as blacks we were stolen from our own land and spoke African, we were forced to learn the "correct" language. Gullah or Gueechee, and Zulu are still stereotypically intact African dialect; while Haitians speak Spanish or French. Which is not a surprise due to the fact -- our oppressors were of European decent (Latin, French, and Greek.) The way the lovely Toni Morrison's characters are accurate and reflect the times; even Shakespeare and Chaucer shortened words to save up space, both of them known as fathers of this so called language. It has to do with accents, ethnicity, and culture; regarding language which why translation is important. Let's not forget that English is practically based on other cultural language being mispronounced; for example coca, Kumbaya, chocolate, fudge and many more. Also this is an old video, it is ill to speak of the dead; as far as why children can't read school has to do with the school system. Systematic racism for black male students; statistics stating to this day most poor people in prison black or white and male end up in prison because of their third grade reading level. Schools are more concerned about test scores and not teaching anymore; English and Math however are the common core subjects students most know to operate in the real world. In conclusion a novelist literally means a writer of novels; not a grammarian, although writers can be grammarians the most prestigious are not.

@@aldapellegrino6712 Well, we sure started strong here. I think you’re missing the point of her writing if the linchpin of your disgust is grammar, especially given some of her works, like Beloved, are written with a stream-of-consciousness approach that is more purposed towards invoking the natural, flawed string of thoughts people have, as opposed to standardized English. She spoke of a people-one that has history with being killed in the pursuit of education, might I add-its struggles, and its healing. If she were more bent out of shape over spit versus spat, she’d have become a high school teacher. We’d have a lot less integrity and color in a world like that, though.

iwasborntobefly thank you!

iwasborntobefly typical university academics, in love with the sound of their own voices😤

The intro is SO amazing though

I liked the context provided by the intros

hero(ine). thank you for your service.

The MOST brilliant of brilliant!! There’s never been anyone like her & there never will be again!! She was one of a kind never to be replicated!! Her passing was devastating!! We lost a brilliant woman with the most beautiful masterful mind who could write like no other….the world without her lacks the “color” of HOME!!

Yo I actually 100 % with u , she feels like an auntie 2 me . I'm Tongan and NONE of my aunties will probably never have her level of intellect & wisdom , or speak in such eloquent and articulate way .

For me it was Song of Solomon

Flywheel Shyster and so funny too

Very talented too

@Jimmy George Cause nothing screams "I, Jimmy George, have an over-abundance of intelligence" louder than ending a snarky comment on a Toni Morrison talk at Cornell University with a "....lmao"

Thanks Christine. You know, I wonder how Toni Morrison would respond to some of the comments you alluded to in your response? I wonder how we all would think/feel/behave if there were no one to placate and no one to defend against? To simply be: without the impulse to fit in, defend, or validate one's position and, and to do so without judgment...how authentic we could be... thanks.

Toni: If the racist white person, and I don't mean if the person is examining his consciousness, doesn't understand that he or she is also a race, it's also constructed. It's also made and it also have some serviceability. When you take it away, if I take your race away, there you are all strung out and then all you have got is your little self. What is that? What are you without racism? Are you any good? Are you still strong? Are you still smart? Do you still like yourself? These are the questions. Part of it is, yes the victim, how terrible it has been for black people. Charlie: Were you ever like that? Toni: I'm not a victim. I refuse to be one. Charlie: The victim is the other person who is morally inferior? I can hold onto racism for his or her own self esteem issue. Toni: That's a serious question. If you can only be tall because somebody is on their knees than you have a serious problem. My feeling is white people have a very, very serious problem. They should start thinking about what they can do about it. Take me out of it.

I think Ms. Morrison would call it a severe neurosis

Sharon F. PROFOUND Neurosis* ;)

Because if Americans, especially the so called 'progressive' America, is so bent on their version of 'justice' how can they exalt racist venom like this? Imagine a White author using the same language- or a Chinese author speaking about blacks this way. She is a classic bigot with a mostly White audience and its proof of the tail spin American culture is in. She is a out and out racist, not a hero....

Toni Morrison's intellectual prowess is a threat to those, who aren't used to a brown-skinned person who speaks with authority, without being threatening. Who speaks her truth and is unapologetic about it. Who shows you how good she is, with humility and can back it up with her books, her answers to sometimes ridiculous questions, that have tried to throw her off. People please, the woman does not need to justify who she is to you. Her mere existence is enough, she was always enough...It is a pity that other mindsets were so focused and ready to criticize what she expressed..( it was her experience, her truth) how dare you all judge that!!! No one can deny, what she had to say was fascinating, thought-provoking and challenging to the human experience, regarding race, humanity, love....and most of you would prefer to focus on racism in its most negative form.......Selah...

Really, anyone who cannot understand the genius of this woman should try to educate themselves to a higher level.

@Motown Gayes I'm saying what I understand...I am a brownskinned woman...it does not negate what I understand of the term 'black'....I have a 'black' TV. I am not the colour of my TV. ..looool....

@Jimmy George Jimmy, you couldn’t compare so don’t even try

Yes!

Toni Morrison is a sub par writer with a majority White audience that hates itself so much they piss themselves over this fat, black bigot.

@Jimmy George no she speaks for the realities of pre Jim Crow and the Jim Crow era. That evil culture cannot be erased and she speaks of it.

​@Jimmy George You sound so strong! Your opinions are like hammers shattering our hypnotized awe, our trance of pleasure listening to Toni Morrison speak! You snapped us, the sheeple, out of it. Her mind, her voice, her use of language have nothing on you're coy, even modest, eluding to your own razor sharp intellect. You tease us though! You're proving to us that you are a very brilliant man, Jimmy George, with sophisticated tastes, because you are telling us that Toni Morrison wasn't ever as good as you are, OR as good as the literature you love - but Jimmy George you refuse to give us the goods! Don't just take away - you have to give us something to fill the now empty space left behind. We are here, we are hungry for your knowledge! Not your opinion about race because who really cares about your opinions about race, but tell us about words. Let us have a taste of your literary strength!

I agree with your compliment, “Phenomenal woman.” But why do “We the People” cast race as a strength and/or confining limitation? Why are we afraid of boundless expression to a perpetual detriment curving and curbing progeny’s potential? Let’s enjoy this Temporary Human Experience as wafts of the smoldering fences are putridly distinct while combining in our dust giving humanity a chance for endless expansion!

Nothing to dislike about Toni Morrison.

@@Ladybug9497 dont respond to racist trolls report and block them!!!!

Wonderful commentary. Morridon is like Shakedprare to me, you read a new play or book each time you pick it up to enjoy again.

@@iamme3329 Here is a transcript of Toni Morrison at Toni Morrison at Portland State, May 30, 1975, if it is that one you are referring to!? so anyone who wants to make their own judgement can read here what was going down ...www.mackenzian.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Transcript_PortlandState_TMorrison.pdf

Yes Dr Ivan Van Sertima and other Black scholars have historical analysis in their books on this topic.

And the Moors were white slave traders who before European got into international slave trade raided Europe and sent white sex slaves to Africa for nearly 8 hundred years. Just adding to your African studies. The word slave comes from the slavs . White people who so common as slaves thar is where the word came from. Americans no nothing about slavery or probably choose to conveniently forget. Blacks go on like they were the only people who were ever enslaved. Look up slavery in the Songhai and Mali kingdoms. Horrendous slavery started in Africa. Infact you could say. Africa showed Europe the way. When it comes to slavery. Now we have the great black gaze

@Jimmy George I think you’re just upset you’ve had less success than her.

Me too

It wasn't an interview. That's why. It was a discussion between professors

It wasn't an interview. That's why. It was a discussion between professors

Fifty five dislikes. Bizarre. You'd think they'd actually watch the fucking video instead of complaining about an author they've clearly never read simply for the fact that she's black. How pointless, reductive and stupid. More fool them.

ShineOnCrazyDiamond1 don't even consider making the number of diapprivers valid. It MUST be rigged because I, in purpose, sought out the number of dissaprovers for "The Lord's Prayer" by the SINGIMG NUN" and there were quite a few - my point - it's rigged for a dumb reasob

I hope you’re still writing! Don’t deny yourself the opportunity of self expression via a stretching form of communication that winds and bends time as it expands into the abyss of greatness that is infinity!

Sis in Transition Oh my god it was incredible to hear her talk about that knowing I’m dreading “trash day”.

+David Linx But just a fifteen minute introduction? Come on now! This isn't just a great woman, but perhaps the best evidence that a black woman can pick up a pen and match the great philosopher Plato! Indeed, we can't at this present time comprehend the incredible thoughts of this great woman as, like Bob once said, we are all like ropes hanging from the Goodyear blimp in comparison to her incredible fantastic wonderful greatness!!

+MisterNifty Seriously? Her toughts seem racist to me. White gaze? What about the black glares I get when trying to walk down the road. Or the beat down many old white people (and some young) getting when they are in the wrong hood? What about all the black crime and why does she endorse it and why is she our president's favorite author?

+Aurora B by white gaze, she meant the standard by which all things in America are judged. Those things you mentioned are isolated events. The white gaze is something all people of color must compete with.

IndYah Rashaud I experience a lot of black gazes. What's your point? I don't look menacing at people, like those I see, but be damned I will not back down.

+Aurora B lol my point is that it's not a literal gaze. she's not talking about a look you get from people, it's more of a commonly accepted perspective.

🕊

***** I think that the word genius is the wrong word to use here. While I do agree with the idea that people of different races have different thought processes, I think it would be wrong to consider one variety of thought process to be "superior" to another. Although white people are generally responsible for complex technological advancements, I believe that approach to living/thinking has its pros and cons, just like the other forms of human civilization that exist today and in the past. Don't you find it interesting that despite the incredibly complex technological aspects of western civilization (particularly in American culture), the average citizen is less happy than, say, a hunter gatherer? Or an African living in a village? When someone says "Whites are better; look at all this stuff they've made!" it seems to me that that person is ignoring other key aspects of being human.

Romulus1 I can respect your argument. However, how do you know the hunter gatherer and the village-dweller are happier than the western citizen?

@@clitmint My ancestors built that wall! This makes sense to me because I know how highly intelligent my family members are-perfectly logical that my ancestors directed the construction of the greatest construction project in history. I pray that you get enlightened.

@@clitmint My ancestors were part of the leaders6of Benin City. The leadership was entirely Black African.

@Storm I Am Groot.

Mrs. Morrison, older very relaxed and Claudia Brodsky, sophisticated and polished. Yet that is all superficial. They obviously are quite 'likely' and quite compatible. Most enjoyable interview.

she, ms morrison makes some white people uncomfortable because it tells of the inhumanity of white men that has been visited on others by them. It is an ugliness they dont want to adress or be reminded of. they get angry because a black woman has the ordastity to do so. they willingly embrace the privledge that they have inherited but they dont want to embrace the ugly part. So they call this woman a racist because she write about these things. They are the true racist.! You have to have power and control to be a racist, otherwise you are just a bigot.

Nathaniel Cornejo Yeah, but she is incredibly articulate.

+bkerrjr She is articulate.

What? You don't like wealthy black athletes? Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Tony Gwynn, et cetera? Are you an angry bigot and/or are you just simple-minded