I Didn't Know That I Could Fly Until You Showed Me - Remembering Toni Morrison at the Young Vic.

Remember i ngToniMor r i s on

“ IDI DN’ TKNOW

THATICOULDFL Y UNTI LYOUSHOWEDME

”

To c el ebr at et he l i f e of Toni Mor r i s on,i n Sept ember2019t he YoungVi cpr es ent edaneveni ngof s har edr eadi ngsofherwor k.

Hos t edbyKwameKwei Ar mah, t he eventmar kedamomentt ol i s t en t o and t oc el ebr at et he wor k of ToniMor r i s on–oneoft hemos t i nf l uent i aland i mpor t antwr i t er s ofhergener at i on.

Thi sbookc ol l at est henot esl ef tby t heaudi enc eatt hatc el ebr at i oni nt r i but eandi ngr at i t ude-aswel l asquot esf r om t hepas s agesr ead.

YOUGAVEME “ THECOURAGE AND PERMI SSI ON TOLI VE ‘ OUTL OUD’

”

“ Ther ei sr eal l ynot hi ngmor et o s ay—exc eptwhy .Buts i nc ewhy i sdi f f i c ul tt ohandl e,onemus t t aker ef ugei nhow. ”

ToniMor r i s on~TheBl ue s tEy e

YOUOPENED “ MYSOUL ”

THANKYOUFORTHEWOMAN “ MYMOTHER& SI STERSBECAME. . . ”

“ Ac c ept i ng no t i t l e of honor bef or ehername,butal l owi nga s mal lc ar es saf t eri t , s hebec ame an unc hur c hed pr eac her ,one whovi s i t edpul pi t sandopened hergr eathear tt ot hos e who c oul dus ei t . �

ToniMor r i s on~Be l ov e d

“ I t ’ s a bad wor d, ‘ bel ong. ’ Es pec i al l ywhenyouputi twi t h s omebody you l ove. Love s houl dn’ tbel i ket hat . ”

ToniMor r i s on~SongofSol omon

" Iwoul ddoi tal loveragai n: Bet hehar borands ett hes ai l , Loos et hebr eez eandhar nes st hegal e, Cher i s ht hehar ves tofwhatIhavebeen.

Bet t ert hes ummi tt os c al e.

Bet t ert hes ummi tt obe. "

ToniMor r i s on~Ev eRe me mbe r i ng

“ Over and over agai n I am amaz ed by t he t r eas ur et r ove t hatAmer i c anl i t er at ur ei s .

How c ompel l i ngi st hes t udyoft hos e wr i t er swhot aker es pons i bi l i t y f oral l oft heval uest heybr i ngt o t hei rar t . �

ToniMor r i s on~Pl ay i ngi nt heDar k

SHEI S “ THEREASON IWRI TE

”

“ WhenIl ear nedhow r epul s i ve t hi sdi s i nt er es t edvi ol enc ewas , t hati twasr epul s i vebec aus ei t was di s i nt er es t ed,my s hame f l ounder ed about f or r ef uge.

Thebes thi di ngpl ac ewasl ove. �

ToniMor r i s on~TheBl ue s tEy e

Edi t or : T eunk i eVa nDerSl ui j s .

T oniMor r i s onphot o: Debor a hFei ngol d/ Cor bi sEnt er t a i nment / Get t yI ma ges .