Toni Morrison honored with new stamp, unveiled at Princeton

Writer, editor Toni Morrison honored with new stamp

The stamp immortalizing the Nobel laureate, who died in 2019, was unveiled during a series of events at Princeton University, where she taught for nearly two decades.

Writer, editor Toni Morrison honored with new stamp

The stamp immortalizing the Nobel laureate, who died in 2019, was unveiled during a series of events at Princeton University, where she taught for nearly two decades.

- Hello everyone, and a special howdy do to all the members of Ms. Toni Morrison's family there today to bear witness to this incredible moment in American history, honoring such a powerful legend. You know, Toni Morrison's books are in so many of our homes and abide in our hearts because she served as a catalyst for generations of readers over the years to understand the power of reading and words, It was over 20 years ago that I had a desire to start a book club, and everybody at the time told me it would never work on broadcast television, but I knew that what I wanted to do was to create an environment where people could gather and open our minds to explore great books. And over the years, I selected four of Toni Morrison's books to read as a community, more than any other author. And I remember when we had Toni on the show for the first time to talk about "Song of Solomon." I shared with her that, you know, Ms. Morrison, sometimes your books are challenging and difficult for some people to read. And she said, "Well, think about how difficult they are to write." Correct. But difficult or not, what she was able to do through her words was bring people from all over the country and the world together in an entirely new experience. I recall being so surprised when women in Brazil, and women in India, and women from Asia, and Mexico and all around the world as well the United States, as the United States were telling us how much they saw themselves as Pecola Breedlove in "The Bluest Eye." And it was when she was there for "The Bluest Eye" that she shared one of her most profound stories. She told the story of being a young mother raising Slade and Ford and as young boys often when they'd come into the room, the first thing she said, she would greet them with a critical eye. She said she would ask, "Did you comb your hair?" "Pull up those socks." "Tuck in your shirt." Ford, you may remember some of that. She said she realized that her love for her boys and desire for them to do well was often met with a critical eye. But she realized that what children want to feel love is does your face light up when I enter the room? Do your eyes light up? Are you glad to see me? Ooh, my goodness, that was so powerful. So much so that at the time I could hear mothers in the audience gasping. It was such an enlightening moment. And I was at an airport recently and a woman came up to me and told me that that moment with Toni Morrison on the show changed the way she parented forever. I will be forever grateful for her work and know that we will always have Toni Morrison in our lives because we will always have her words and now we have this commemorative stamp. So thank you everyone for being there today to honor her and her magnificent life. (pen writing sounds)

Writer, editor Toni Morrison honored with new stamp

The stamp immortalizing the Nobel laureate, who died in 2019, was unveiled during a series of events at Princeton University, where she taught for nearly two decades.

Nobel laureate Toni Morrison is now forever immortalized on a stamp honoring the prolific writer, editor, scholar and mentor that was unveiled Tuesday morning in a tribute at Princeton University, where she taught for almost two decades.Guest speakers, some who had close personal relationships with Morrison and spoke over Zoom, included former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, as well as the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden.The monthslong series of events are paying tribute to Morrison, who died in 2019 at age 88. The tribute opened with a recording of Morrison's voice playing in the auditorium, reciting a passage on Harlem from her 1992 novel "Jazz": "Nobody says it's pretty here; nobody says it's easy either. What it is is decisive, and if you pay attention to the street plans, all laid out, the City can't hurt you."Later, an all-Black acapella group sang the popular hymn "Lift Every Voice and Sing," which is known as the Black national anthem. The dedication was made by Michael Cadden, a longtime Princeton lecturer who co-taught courses with Morrison, and formerly served as chair of the Lewis Center of the Arts.Cadden introduced Pritha Mehra, the chief information officer and executive vice president of the United States Postal Service, who said that the postal service is proud to commemorate Morrison."Our new stamp will be seen by millions, and forever remind us of the power of her words and the ideas she brought to the world," Mehra said.Photographer Deborah Feingold, whose portrait of Morrison taken for Time magazine's Jan. 19, 1998 cover appears on the stamp, also spoke at the event.Morrison's son, Ford Harrison, and his family were also in attendance Tuesday."Anyone who was lucky enough to meet (Morrrison), knows that she was just as captivating in person as she was on the page," Ruha Benjamin, a professor of African American studies who read a letter written by the Obamas, said "We hope that this postage stamp would make her smile, that she would love the idea of helping us connect through writing once again," she said."Toni may no longer be with us, but we know that her words will endure — challenging our conscience and calling us to greater empathy," Benjamin said.In 1993, Morrison became the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.Winfrey talked about starting her book club in 1996 with Morrison's novel from the same year "Song of Solomon" in mind. "Over the years, I selected four of Toni Morrison's books to read as a community more than any other author," she said Tuesday in a pre-recorded video.Winfrey has recalled that when Morrison made her first appearance on "The Oprah Show," she talked about raising her boys as a single mother and left many in the audience moved. "I shared with her that, 'Ms. Morrison, sometimes your books are challenging and difficult for some people to read.' And she said, 'Well think about how difficult they are to write,'" Winfrey said."But difficult or not, what she was able to do through her words (is) bring people from all over the country and the world together in an entirely new experience," Winfrey continued.In addition to the events this month, an exhibition exploring Morrison's creative process will be held at the university library through June 4. Drawn from her archives, the exhibit features more than 100 pieces, some of which have never been seen — including manuscripts, correspondence with other Black women, photographs and hand-drawn maps she created while working on her acclaimed 1987 novel "Beloved." The exhibit also features some of the only existing drafts of "Song of Solomon," as well as various unfinished projects.Later this month, there'll be a three-day symposium with author Edwidge Danticat giving the keynote address; in April, Grammy-winning vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant will perform.Princeton's President Christopher Eisgruber stressed that Morrison's legacy will continue to be an inspiration for the university, its community and most importantly, Black artists and artist of color."She was a writer of rare genius, brilliant originality and genuinely historic importance," Eisgruber said.

PRINCETON, N.J. —

Guest speakers, some who had close personal relationships with Morrison and spoke over Zoom, included former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, as well as the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden.

The monthslong series of events are paying tribute to Morrison, who died in 2019 at age 88. The tribute opened with a recording of Morrison's voice playing in the auditorium, reciting a passage on Harlem from her 1992 novel "Jazz": "Nobody says it's pretty here; nobody says it's easy either. What it is is decisive, and if you pay attention to the street plans, all laid out, the City can't hurt you."

Later, an all-Black acapella group sang the popular hymn "Lift Every Voice and Sing," which is known as the Black national anthem.

The dedication was made by Michael Cadden, a longtime Princeton lecturer who co-taught courses with Morrison, and formerly served as chair of the Lewis Center of the Arts.

Cadden introduced Pritha Mehra, the chief information officer and executive vice president of the United States Postal Service, who said that the postal service is proud to commemorate Morrison.

"Our new stamp will be seen by millions, and forever remind us of the power of her words and the ideas she brought to the world," Mehra said.

Photographer Deborah Feingold, whose portrait of Morrison taken for Time magazine's Jan. 19, 1998 cover appears on the stamp, also spoke at the event.

Morrison's son, Ford Harrison, and his family were also in attendance Tuesday.

"Anyone who was lucky enough to meet (Morrrison), knows that she was just as captivating in person as she was on the page," Ruha Benjamin, a professor of African American studies who read a letter written by the Obamas, said "We hope that this postage stamp would make her smile, that she would love the idea of helping us connect through writing once again," she said.

"Toni may no longer be with us, but we know that her words will endure — challenging our conscience and calling us to greater empathy," Benjamin said.

In 1993, Morrison became the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Winfrey talked about starting her book club in 1996 with Morrison's novel from the same year "Song of Solomon" in mind. "Over the years, I selected four of Toni Morrison's books to read as a community more than any other author," she said Tuesday in a pre-recorded video.

Winfrey has recalled that when Morrison made her first appearance on "The Oprah Show," she talked about raising her boys as a single mother and left many in the audience moved. "I shared with her that, 'Ms. Morrison, sometimes your books are challenging and difficult for some people to read.' And she said, 'Well think about how difficult they are to write,'" Winfrey said.

"But difficult or not, what she was able to do through her words (is) bring people from all over the country and the world together in an entirely new experience," Winfrey continued.

In addition to the events this month, an exhibition exploring Morrison's creative process will be held at the university library through June 4. Drawn from her archives, the exhibit features more than 100 pieces, some of which have never been seen — including manuscripts, correspondence with other Black women, photographs and hand-drawn maps she created while working on her acclaimed 1987 novel "Beloved." The exhibit also features some of the only existing drafts of "Song of Solomon," as well as various unfinished projects.

Later this month, there'll be a three-day symposium with author Edwidge Danticat giving the keynote address; in April, Grammy-winning vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant will perform.

Princeton's President Christopher Eisgruber stressed that Morrison's legacy will continue to be an inspiration for the university, its community and most importantly, Black artists and artist of color.

"She was a writer of rare genius, brilliant originality and genuinely historic importance," Eisgruber said.

��vlog

Writer, editor Toni Morrison honored with new stamp

The stamp immortalizing the Nobel laureate, who died in 2019, was unveiled during a series of events at Princeton University, where she taught for nearly two decades.

Top Picks

����vlog

Writer, editor Toni Morrison honored with new stamp

The stamp immortalizing the Nobel laureate, who died in 2019, was unveiled during a series of events at Princeton University, where she taught for nearly two decades.

Share

Share

Share

Top Picks

��vlog