Letter: Morrison was one of the truly great writers

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To the editor,

Toni Morrison, who passed this August, was one of the truly great writers of our modern times. She challenged us to look at and learn from our American experience. Though she has physically left us, her prophetic words remain and strike eerie cords of wisdom that may help us find that place where we can, for a moment or two, block out the harsh discords we are being daily subjected to.

Here are her words: On the meaning of life, “We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.”

On an end to racism: “Racism will disappear when it’s no longer profitable, and no longer psychologically useful. And when that happens, it’ll be gone. But at the moment, people make a lot of money off of it.”

On hope: “I know the world is bruised and bleeding, and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge — even wisdom. Like art.”

And simply: “Make a difference about something other than yourselves.”

RIP, Toni Morrison, thank you for your words.

Ethel Grant

Naugatuck