Student Question

In Toni Morrison's "Recitatif," who is black and who is white?

Quick answer:

Toni Morrison does not disclose the races of the characters in "Recitatif." The story is an experiment in removing racial codes to challenge readers to consider the importance of race and what it obscures. By not revealing this information, Morrison encourages readers to focus on other aspects such as class, disability, gender, narration, memory, or trauma.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Toni Morrison never discloses the answer to this question. Part of the point of her story is to experiment with this very question.

Toni Morrison (in her Preface to Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination) wrote, "'Recitatif' was an experiment in the removal of all racial codes from a narrative about two characters of different races for whom racial identity is crucial."

By failing to reveal this information to her readers, she asks her readers to consider why race is so important to readers and what a focus on race obscures. For example, if readers stop focusing on race, they might focus on class, disability, gender, or storytelling issues like narration, memory, or trauma.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial