Toni Morrison is an author I have a profound respect for. No, I do not understand her half the time. Yes, I am aware that a substantial portion of the connotations she lays out go so far over my head I would need to enlist NASA to help me understand. My respect for her is due to her ability to write something incredibly powerful in an everyday way. She would be a good blogger. Don’t worry, I’ll look in to it for us.
I was required to read Morrison’s story about Twyla and Roberta in two of my classes this week. Not only does that go to show her personal impact on the literary world, but it also attests to the multidimensional aspect of her writing. She has a rare ability to conjure up self-reflection from her readers. This week, I fell victim to this talent.
On Monday I detailed how wrong it was for Twyla and Roberta to judge each other hastily, and assume society’s presumptions about each other. We discussed the way that stereotypes are reinforced by looking at the differences between ourselves and others, and the way we define those different from us as “others”. I truly believe it is as simple as that. We see the differences, categorize the individual, apply the stereotypes, and continue on our way.
On Tuesday we talked about which of the two girls was African American and which girl was White. Not only had I not contemplated this part of the story, but I had automatically assumed Roberta was African American. The humiliating side of this presumption is the basis by which I constructed it.
Twyla associates a bad smell and uncleanliness with Roberta, and states that her mother will not be happy about their rooming situation. This alone was enough for me to deduce her race. Those two abhorrent, malicious, and just outright wrong observations convinced me. I use Spotify ever single day for at least 5 hours and am still unconvinced my $4/month subscription is worth it. This moment is also what I came back to when I realized we had never been explicitly told the girls’ races. Not only am I embarrassed of my inference, but I am dejected by my clear acceptance of the stereotypes I have encountered.
Why do I believe African Americans are commonly regarded as unclean and associated with dreadful smells? Why did I acknowledge one character’s opinion of another character, and apply it to a group of people? Why have I gone 3 days without showering, and think that I can apply uncleanliness to other people solely because of their race? Can I still l consider myself accepting and independent of the racial animosity plaguing out nation?
I am indecisive in regards to these questions, but I do know that I am thankful for Morrison’s uncanny ability to make me see things I wouldn’t have otherwise. I look forward to continuing this dissection of myself and the way we think about race.
Whiteness in USAmerican Culture 
You asked the question, “Can I still l consider myself accepting and independent of the racial animosity plaguing out nation?” I think is an extremely valid question, considering the current racial tensions that exist in the United States. I believe that despite this animosity, you can still consider yourself accepting. Further, I believe the Vanderbilt community is making great strides to be more accepting as a whole. In order for our community to be accepting, we need to address the existing racial animosity and rise above it. The most significant way that Vanderbilt is addressing this issue is by giving the community opportunities to learn about racial differences and diversity, such as through lecture series and courses like ours. Also Vanderbilt understands the psychological implications of many current events going on in the U.S. and gives students opportunities to talk to people for support. I believe these are ways that our community as a whole is accepting and independent of racial animosity in our nation, and by actively participating in these efforts and adopting a mindset of acceptance, an individual can overcome many of the issues that are plaguing our country.
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As Maggie’s discussion of some of the changes happening here at Vanderbilt points out, open discussion is an important step. But as the experiences of many of Vanderbilt’s students of color attest (there have been a number of excellent op-eds and think pieces in the Hustler), there’s a big difference between “diversity” and “inclusion,” and Vanderbilt, like the USA on the whole, is in an awkward, difficult place between the two. Diversity alone doesn’t dispel or unravel racism precisely because stereotypes and prejudices have been so deeply ingrained in our culture at almost every level (as many of the historical readings we’ve encountered reveal). While white people can disavow their prejudices or profess that they don’t have any or that they “inherited” them through the complex workings of culture, your post, Addison, I think reveals how powerful confronting our own prejudices can be; acknowledging them and committing to rectify them are the first steps toward change.
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Also, in case you’re interested in Toni Morrison “blogging,” check out this article she recently wrote for The New Yorker: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/11/21/making-america-white-again
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