Honoring Toni Morrison for Women’s History Month

I was working for the Olin Chemical Company in Stamford, Connecticut, where I created a program for women to come together and hear women authors speak about their experiences as authors and feminists. Toni Morrison, who at the time was working as an editor at Random House, was one of the women I hoped would attend. I wasn’t sure how to reach her, so I simply picked up the phone, called Random House, and asked for her. To my shock, they connected me directly.

“Hi,” I said when she answered. “I was wondering if you would be willing to come and be part of an event being offered by Olin Chemical Company for women in Stamford, Ct.” I shared all the details with her and took her address so I could send everything by mail. I also told her how much I had enjoyed The Bluest Eye and that I looked forward to discussing it with her. I asked if she might also talk about the books she had edited and was publishing through Random House.

She agreed with everything. She said she was pleased that I had asked and would be happy to participate. Before we hung up, I told her that I could provide an honorarium of $500. She thanked me, and we ended the call. I was thrilled.

The day of the event arrived. I had also wanted to feature Alica Walker, but because of a commitment she couldn’t join us. There were also three women who were promising authors from various national corporations. Each shared stories about their work and what feminism meant to them. The audience was lively and full of questions.

All of the women were wonderful—but Toni Morrison was the star.

Her voice was deeper than I had imagined. She spoke about her work as an editor at Random House and about the creativity that shaped her first novel, The Bluest Eye. There were so many questions for her, we could not take them all.

Toni Morrison was the star that day, and she remains a star today. We honor her life and work as we celebrate Women’s History Month.