Toni Morrison Facts & Worksheets

Toni Morrison was a famous American writer and editor who wrote books about race, identity, and the experiences of African Americans. One of her most famous novels, Song of Solomon, was published in 1977 and won the National Book Critics Circle Award. She also won the Pulitzer Prize for Beloved in 1988 and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.

See the fact file below for more information about Toni Morrison, or you can download our 24-page Toni Morrison worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE AND BACKGROUND

• Toni Morrison, born Chloe Anthony Wofford on February 18, 1931, was the second of four children from a working-class African-American family in Lorain, Ohio. 
• Her mother, Ramah (née Willis), was born in Greenville, Alabama, and moved north with her family as a child. She was a homemaker and a devout member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
• Meanwhile, her father, George Wofford, was raised in Cartersville, Georgia.
• When Morrison was about two years old, her family’s landlord set fire to their house while they were home because her parents could not afford to pay rent. 
• Morrison’s parents instilled in her a sense of heritage through telling traditional African-American folktales and singing songs.
• She read frequently as a child.
• Among her favorite authors were Jane Austen and Leo Tolstoy.
• Morrison became a Catholic at 12 years old.
• She chose the name Anthony for her baptismal ceremony in honor of Anthony of Padua. 
• This is how her nickname, Toni, came about.
• When she attended Lorain High School, she was active on the debate team, the drama club, and the yearbook team.
• She then studied drama at Howard University, where she encountered racial segregation for the first time.
• Morrison started writing fiction while she was at Howard University with a group of writers. 
• She graduated with a B.A. in English in 1953 and later earned a Master of Arts degree from Cornell University. 

TEACHING AND LITERARY CAREER

• After teaching at universities and facing personal struggles like divorce and raising her kids, she became an editor at Random House.
• There, she helped publish books by famous African-American authors like Muhammad Ali and Henry Dumas.
• Morrison also edited important collections that showed Black life in the United States, which helped bring African-American literature to more readers and support new African-American writers.
• One of her stories, which she wrote at Howard University, became her first novel, “The Bluest Eye,” which was published in 1970 and received good reviews.
• Although it didn’t sell much at first, it became popular when colleges started including it on their reading lists.
• Morrison went on to write more successful novels like “Sula” and “Song of Solomon.”
• In 1983, she quit her job at Random House to focus on writing and teaching.
• She also wrote a play called “Dreaming Emmett” based on a true story, which was performed in 1986.
• Toni Morrison drew inspiration from the true story of Margaret Garner, an enslaved woman, while working on “The Black Book.” This inspired her most renowned novel, Beloved, which was published in 1987. 
• The novel recounts the tragic narrative of a mother who sacrifices her child to shield her from slavery’s horrors, only to be haunted by the child’s ghost later on.
• Even though it faced some critical reviews at first, “Beloved” achieved bestseller status and earned Morrison the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1988.
• Morrison delved deeper into themes of love and African-American history in what is now known as the Beloved Trilogy.
• The trilogy’s second installment, “Jazz,” published in 1992, is set against the backdrop of the Harlem Renaissance.
• In the same year, she published one more book, “Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination,” in which she scrutinized the portrayal of African-Americans in White American literature.
• In 1993, Morrison made history by becoming the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
• Her profound impact on literature was further acknowledged through accolades such as the Jefferson Lecture and the National Book Foundation’s Medal of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
• She concluded the Beloved Trilogy with “Paradise,” published in 1997.
• In 1998, a movie based on “Beloved” was shown in theaters.
• It was a big deal because Oprah Winfrey helped make it happen and even acted in the movie.
• The movie ended up not doing well with audiences.
• However, some critics liked how the movie explored important issues through its spooky parts.
• Morrison also worked on music projects and even helped create an opera based on a true story that inspired “Beloved.”
• As Morrison’s fame grew, she was recognized as one of the best American writers of the past few decades.
• The Toni Morrison Society, which focused on scholarly research on Morrison’s works, established its home base at Oberlin College in August 2012.
• Morrison’s eleventh novel, “God Help the Child,” published in 2015, centers on a woman navigating emotional wounds from her past. 
• Morrison’s contributions also extended to The Nation magazine’s editorial advisory board.

PERSONAL LIFE

• While teaching at Howard University from 1957 to 1964, she met and married Harold Morrison, an architect from Jamaica, in 1958.
• Toni took his last name and became known as Toni Morrison.
• They welcomed their first son, Harold Ford, in 1961.
• Shortly after, in 1964, while pregnant, Toni and Harold divorced.
• A year later, in 1965, their second son, Slade Kevin, was born. 
• Tragically, Slade Morrison passed away from pancreatic cancer on December 22, 2010, while Toni was in the middle of writing her novel “Home.”
• She took a break from writing for a year or two before finishing the book, which was eventually published in 2012.
• At the age of 88, Toni Morrison passed away at Montefiore Medical Center in The Bronx, New York City, on August 5, 2019, due to pneumonia complications.

IMPACT AND LEGACY

• Toni Morrison made a huge impact on how people think about race and identity.
• Her books were not just popular but also influenced how people see the world.
• She was not afraid to talk about difficult subjects like racism and how it affects people’s lives. 
• Aside from writing, she also taught at places like Princeton University and helped other Black writers get their work published. 
• Her writing and teaching inspired many people to speak up about important issues like fairness and equality.

Toni Morrison Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Toni Morrison across 24 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Toni Morrison. One of her most famous novels, Song of Solomon, was published in 1977 and won the National Book Critics Circle Award. She also won the Pulitzer Prize for Beloved in 1988 and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Toni Morrison Facts
2. More About Morrison
3. Toni’s Timeline
4. Novel Bingo
5. Odd One Out
6. Book Quotes
7. Review, Rave, Reflect
8. Amazing Authors
9. Defining Events
10. Toni Talks Life
11. Creative Inspiration

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Toni Morrison?

Toni Morrison was a renowned American novelist, essayist, editor, and professor. She was born Chloe Anthony Wofford on February 18, 1931, in Lorain, Ohio, and she passed away on August 5, 2019.

What are some of Toni Morrison’s notable works?

Morrison wrote several acclaimed novels, including “Beloved” (1987), which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1988, and “Song of Solomon” (1977), which won the National Book Critics Circle Award. Other notable works include “The Bluest Eye” (1970), “Sula” (1973), and “Tar Baby” (1981).

What themes did Toni Morrison’s writing often explore?

Morrison’s writing frequently explored themes of race, identity, trauma, and the African American experience. She delved into the complexities of history, memory, and the impact of societal norms and injustices on individuals and communities.

What was Toni Morrison’s impact on literature?

Morrison’s impact on literature was profound. She not only enriched the literary landscape with her powerful prose and exploration of African American experiences but also challenged prevailing narratives and stereotypes. Her works expanded the boundaries of American literature and influenced generations of writers.

What recognition did Toni Morrison receive for her contributions to literature?

Toni Morrison received numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993, making her the first African American woman to win the award. She also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012 and was honored with various literary awards and honorary degrees.

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