Namwali Serpell and Hanif Abdurraqib on Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon
Namwali Serpell and Hanif Abdurraqib discuss Toni Morrison's work during a celebration in Ohio. They explore the complexities of adapting her novels for film and the significance of sound in her writing. Their conversation highlights the dignity afforded to Black voices in literature and the importance of embracing ambiguity in storytelling.
- ▪Namwali Serpell and Hanif Abdurraqib participated in a discussion about Toni Morrison's work.
- ▪They read and analyzed the ending of Morrison's Song of Solomon, focusing on its themes of violence and ambiguity.
- ▪The conversation emphasized the musicality of language in Morrison's writing and the challenges of conveying Black voices in literature.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
For the launch of Ohio’s year-long, state-wide celebration of Toni Morrison, Namwali Serpell flies to Columbus to talk with poet and essayist Hanif Abdurraqib. With the help of the audience, they read the ending of Morrison’s Song of Solomon and then open up the scene’s quiet violence and ambiguous action. The passage leads them to discuss the challenges of adapting Morrison’s novels for film, the power of evoking the inexplicable, and the influence of African folk tales on Morrison’s work.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Literary Hub.
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