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Texas Woman's University

The civil rights movement in Toni Morrison's "Song of Solomon"

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Although Toni Morrison situates all of her novels in a specific place and time, historical context is especially relevant in Song of Solomon (1977). However, scholars typically examine Milkman's quest for his family history without addressing the Civil Rights era in which the main part of the narrative occurs. Commentary is needed on how the struggle for liberation of the black race as a whole during the Civil Rights Movement parallels the individual liberation that Milkman and other characters seek in the novel. This project examines specific dates, events, and people Morrison alludes to in the novel and her attitude toward these dates, events, and people. This project also examines Milkman's relationship with Guitar, Guitar's involvement in the Seven Days, and Milkman's journeys to Danville and Shalimar. Through all of these aspects of the novel, Morrison explores positive and negative options available to blacks in their continuing struggle for equality.

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Simpson, Melissa High
Advisors dc:contributor.advisor
  • Bridges, Phyllis
  • Thompson, Lou
  • Bean, Judith

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Rights

Language dc:language.iso
en_US

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/11274/9097
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:twu-ir.tdl.org:11274/9097

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Texas Woman's University
Base URL
twu-ir.tdl.org/server/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Simpson, Melissa High. The civil rights movement in Toni Morrison's "Song of Solomon". 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/11274/9097