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Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.

Toni Morrison

There is no civilization that did not begin with art, Whether it was drawing a line in the sand, painting a cave or dancing.
TONI MORRISON

Art Beginning Civilization Dance Painting
I don’t think one parent can raise a child. I don’t think two parents can raise a child. You really need the whole village.
TONI MORRISON

Children Need Parents Raise Thinking Village
In times of dread, artists must never choose to remain silent. This is precisely the time when artists go to work.
TONI MORRISON

Artist Choose Silence Time Work
And I am all the things I have ever loved: scuppernong wine, cool baptisms in silent water, dream books and number playing.
TONI MORRISON

Cool Love Number Play Self Love Silence Water Wine
If there’s a book you really want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.
TONI MORRISON

Book Writing
I want to discourage you from choosing anything or making any decision simply because it is safe. Things of value seldom are.
TONI MORRISON

Choose Decision Discourage Safe Seldom Value Want
Misery don’t call ahead. That’s why you have to stay awake – otherwise it just walks on in your door.
TONI MORRISON

Awake Door Misery Walk
It is sheer good fortune to miss somebody long before they leave you.
TONI MORRISON

Break Up Broken Heart Fortune Leaving Missing Sheer
Beloved, you are my sister, you are my daughter, you are my face; you are me.
TONI MORRISON

Beloved Daughter Face Myself Self Love Sister Women
Beauty was not simply something to behold; it was something one could do.
TONI MORRISON

Beautiful Women
We mistook violence for passion, indolence for leisure, and thought recklessness was freedom.
TONI MORRISON

Freedom Leisure Passion Violence
Don’t beg anybody for anything, especially love.
TONI MORRISON

Beg Deep Inspirational Love Self Respect
When there is pain, there are no words. All pain is the same.
TONI MORRISON

Broken Heart Pain Sad Suffering
To get to a place where you could love anything you chose – not to need permission for desire – well now that was freedom.
TONI MORRISON

Choose Freedom Love Permission Place
All paradises, all utopias are designed by who is not there, by the people who are not allowed in.
TONI MORRISON

Allow Design Paradise People
Black boys became criminalized. I was in constant dread for their lives, because they were targets everywhere. They still are.
TONI MORRISON

Black Lives Matter Crime Live Racism Traget

Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.

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Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.

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