Chelene Knight’s Tribute to Toni Morrison

The first time I read Toni Morrison’s work, I knew immediately that language was power. I found myself lost inside of its arms. I never wanted to apologize for this. I came into Morrison’s work quite late. I first read The Bluest Eye in 2013 after a writing mentor recommended that I dive in. Never before have I felt so seen, and not only because her writing spoke uniquely and unapologetically to Black peoples, worrying not about the ever-present white gaze, but because the poetic stylings and pizazz of her writing led me into a writing frenzy of my own.

Doors, windows, and portholes to new worlds and ways of storytelling presented themselves to me through her writing. I knew that I too wanted to change literature for the better and help other Black women hold the spaces that have been historically withheld from us. Now, I have written a novel where a young Black introverted female artist shows the world the power of her uniquely perceptive nature, and a nonfiction book on Black self love and joy. I have Morrison to thank for the indirect permission to create unapologetically. Morrison’s work was light years ahead of its time and I am grateful for the opportunity to have the gift of her words forever at my disposal.