Three Reasons Why You Need to Read This Toni Morrison Novel That Drives Book Banners Crazy

In 1970, Toni Morrison published her first novel, “The Bluest Eye.” Set in Ohio in the 1940s, the powerful story is centered around 11-year-old Pecola Breedlove, a Black girl who grew up in a violent household, feeling ashamed of her dark skin and hair texture. Pecola is so consumed by the idea that looking white will make her life better that she prays for her eyes to turn blue, only to find out that not everything is what it seems.

Although the book is considered a classic, in the 50 years since its publication, “The Bluest Eye” has been a target of conservative groups looking to remove it from public schools across America because of its “disturbing language” and “sexually explicit material.” According to PEN America, it was one of the top 20 most commonly banned titles in the country during the 2023 – 2024 school year.

As we approach Banned Books Week, here are three reasons why you need to read Toni Morrison’s ‘The Bluest Eye.”

You Will Feel Pecola’s Pain

One of the reasons “The Bluest Eye” resonates so deeply with Black readers is because colorism is one of its central themes. Fans of the book will tell you that it’s almost impossible to get through the book with dry eyes as Morrison does such a beautiful job of making the reader empathize with a young girl who just wants to feel pretty.

Black TikToker, Kehinde loves the way Morrison explores the intersection of beauty and race in the book. In her online review, she says she empathizes with Pecola’s feelings of self-hate and desire to be something easier than Black.

“I really understand Pecola’s pain, and reading this book, I wanted to insert myself within the pages and just give her the biggest hug and tell her that it does get better,” she said.

@kehindeslibrary

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison review 🤍 #thebluesteye #tonimorrison #booksbyblackauthors #race #booksaboutidentity #bookrecs #booksyoushouldread #bookrecommendations #classicbooks #booktok #literarytok #bookreview #colourism the bluest eye toni morrison books book recommendations

♬ Transcend Piano Version – TWO LANES

The Story is Meant to Make Us Mad

Critics of “The Bluest Eye” condemn the book for Morrison’s portrayal of a child being raped by her father. But TikToker Multicultural Classroom points out that the author’s language is intentional and argues in a post that the very subject matter that makes the book a target for those who want to ban it is what people should be paying attention to.

“There is a difference between a book that is harmful and a book that exposes harm. Those are two very different things,” she said.“’The Bluest Eye’ falls under the latter. It is a book that is meant to show us how not to treat other people. It is a book that is meant to make us hate rape and mistrust and mistreatment of other women, particularly Black women and girls.”

@multiculturalclassroom1

The Bluest Eye should not be banned, period. #books #bookban #bookbanning #booktok #bannedbooks

♬ original sound – Multicultural Classroom

White People Can Learn Something Too

@aclu

Toni Morrison’s novel The Bluest Eye has been banned by school districts across the nation. This pivotal work of fiction exposes readers to new ideas that expand our understanding of humanity, and provides representation for Black communities through rich, beautiful storytelling. No student should be denied the right to read Morrison’s books. 🎥 Recorded at IndieWire’s Sundance Studio

♬ original sound – ACLU

One of the strongest cases for keeping “The Bluest Eye” in schools is the fact that making sure Toni Morrison’s novel is available to as wide an audience as possible makes it more likely that white people can learn something too.

In a video posted by the ACLU, actress Jodi Foster talked about how reading “The Bluest Eye” in college was a life-changing experience for her.

“I can’t think of a book that inspired me more to become a better human being that Bluest Eye,” she said.

Foster added that when her son read the book in school, it opened the door to important dinner table conversations about compassion and understanding other people.

TikToker TattooedGeek14 couldn’t agree more.

“Her prose is just jarringly perfect,” he said. “I’m definitely going to read more Toni Morrison, probably this month, and I suggest all of you do the same, especially if you are a white male.”