Well, Nordette. This is CLASSIC! It's like a political cartoon, just no pictures. However, you've painted the commentary extremely well in words. I was nodding, knowingly, and howling with laughter all the way through it. BRAVO!
10:58 PM
Anonymous said...
I have mixed views. First, I must admit, it is a little offensive to see someone at the literary caliber of Toni Morrison to be clumped together with any old novel (that may be poorly written) just because they are of the same race and their last names begins with "M". However, I think that these labels can be a bit of a distraction, "American" "African American" - how about, it's good to know its in a bookstore and not at a flea market (which is where I bought her book Paradise, for $3 - hardcover too!). I don't think we should beg to be included in the American or Literature genre, and if readers find their cataloguing offensive, then go buy or order her books from an independent Black bookstore. Borders doesn't need the money.
Also, it would be interesting to know, how does Morrison categorize the book? If its categorized like: African-American / American Literature...then the bookstores can choose which category to shelf it under.
PhillyWrites
8:16 AM
Anonymous said...
Lindell writes, First, allow me to say that I am not a fan of Toni Morrison's work. I agree that she is a magnificent writer and a literary icon-- but for me, after "Song of Solomon," I've found her work to be especialy distant. It just doesn't do it for me. I think that Toni Morrison writes for other writers and intellectuals, not for common, everyday folk.
Now, that being said, I would think her work should be categorized with classic American authors and African-American writers.
Fundamentally, though, our friends at Borders are in the book-selling business which is, more than two-thirds of the time, a 'point-of-purchase' emotional reaction. The marketing theory is that if you arrive at Borders looking for something by Cornel West, and whilst in that section, you see a copy of "Song of Solomon" and you think: "Damn, my 16-year niece should read that book," you'll buy it. Borders makes money. The idea of niche-based marketing and compartmentalization in the book selling busiiness is driven by focus groups and MBA types. I would think that in smaller, more intimate bookstores (where they happen to still exist), Ms. Morrison would be in both sections-- as she should be.
Just my thoughts....
12:04 PM
Anonymous said...
Interestingly enough, Amy Tan wrote of the same thing in her book "The Opposite of Fate (A Book of Musings)"-- that she is perpetually categorized not even as an "author of color", but always as an "Asian-American Woman" Writer, no matter what award she may win. Even when she was being asked for permission to have parts of her books used in lit anthologies, or used in Lit classes, it was always to underscore the "Asian-American Woman's" experience. Left her wondering if she would ever be in a category with Twain or Cheever or Faulkner, who also wrote from the standpoint of their backgrounds and experiences, or was there no room in Literature at Large for someone who fit in a tidy Category? (also on: http://www.livejournal.com/community/griots/8317.html?view=8829#t8829 )
This is why I shop online. You don't have to deal with the segregated "genres." The Quality Paperback Club has some great deals and anthologies by Toni Morrison @ qbp.com.
True. I often shop online, but I love a good bookstore with bookworm atmosphere. The smaller, intimate shops are good for that, not the chains that much. Plus it's hard to mingle with mingle with flesh and blood online. Nordette ;-)
3:24 PM
Anonymous said...
Hi Nordette,
Great commentary! If they are going to make a distinction, then they should also include Thomas Jefferson who is rumored to have black ancestry as well fathered black children and of course Bill Clinton...nuff said!
You don't mention which Borders you were at, but I checked out the one in East Brunswick and yes indeed they have Toni Morrison in a separate African-American lit section. (They didn't have any John Edgar Wideman -- tut tut.) The clerk said the categorization of certain authors reflected a company-wide policy and was not a decision made by individual stores.
My informal research then took me to the Barnes & Noble in Hoboken, where there was no separate African-American section (though there was a rack of hip-hop fiction titles like "Round the Way Girlz" right by the cash registers -- pretty sweet placement for those authors). Toni Morrison was in the Fic&Lit seciton alongside Omar Tyree and Alice Walker. Walter Mosley was in the mystery section. No John Edgar Wideman -- bummer.
On the other hand, the Barnes & Noble in North Brunswick had a separate African-American section (they've got more elbow room than the Hoboken shop) but still had Toni Morrison in the Fic&Lit section. (I forgot to ask about John Edgar Wideman.) The zombie who answered the phone had no idea if the categorizations were based on any company-wide policy, but from these examples it would seem they're a little looser about it than Borders. Maybe a call to the flacks for both companies would advance the discussion.
Any halfway-smart store manager would want to stock Morrison's books in both sections, I think, if only to cast as wide a sales net as possible. I always see "Song of Solomon" and "Beloved" whenever Borders and other bookstores put out tables of "Suggested Summer Reading" titles, so any barriers seem to be fairly porous.
I wonder what Morrison herself would have to say about it. Artists strive to make their works as broad and encompassing as possible, then they have to submit to being herded like so many camels through the needle's eye of the publishing industry.
To Nordette from Your Fellow Movie Slut: I think Borders did the right thing but they just did not go far enough. I am shocked that all books aren't categorized racially. Since everyone's DNA has African ancestery then shouldn't there be sections for Greek-Africans, and Roman-Africans, and French-Africans, and Japanese-Africans, etc., and for all those born in their second countries of origin -- let's say the United States -- there would be sections for American-Greek-Africans, American-Italian-Africans, and American-Chinese-Africans, etc? Forget about whether it should be called literature, fiction, non-fiction, biography, whatever; let's reflect on the most important thing for a writer: their 'hood.
11:22 AM
Anonymous said...
why not simply do away with genres altogether and classify literature by continent, huh?! africa here! europe there! asia! australia! the americas! oh, hell... throw antarctica in, too! it's not important what type of book you need... just look through the thousands -- the millions! -- of titles in each section to find your book. yes, the poetry book can now be sandwiched betwixt the romance novel and 5 star movie guide... isn't that what we've always wished for?? yes, as long as we keep the RACES apart... we're good to go! hughes and cummings can not be put together... nah. that'd be confusing! forget about content - stick gloria naylor's selection next to colin powell's autobiography and people will know exactly where to find their book!
sorry about that rant, but essentially i'm just trying to say that you've made an excellent point, as well as brought out some powerful feelings in me. so, thank you!
4:07 AM
Toni Morrison's Nobel Prize inscription: "who in novels characterized by visionary force and poetic import, gives life to an essential aspect of American reality"I was in a New Jersey Borders Bookstore today searching for one of my favorite authors, Toni Morrison. [Photo] I wanted to replace my copy of her book Sula. Couldn't find the Nobel Prize Winner in the literature section. So I went to the information desk.
"I'm probably blind," I said, "But I can't seem to find Toni Morrison."
"Toni Morrison? Oh she'd be in our African-American Literature section."
"What!" My voice shot up a decibel. "Oh, so we're all sectioned off now, huh? Okay, well, I guess that's good. It shows how fantastically well the black book market is doing, but Toni Morrison!"
"Well, our African-American section is very popular," said the young man.
"I'm sure it is. But Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize winning author, shoved off to a little section? I'm sure you have white readers running around wondering Where's Toni Morrison? because they just don't venture into your African-American section."
By now the young man was nodding, probably thinking, Great, so I score the angry black woman today. However, I wasn't glowering at him. I was nodding and smiling. You know that sort of deranged "I can't believe this effin' crap!" nod-and-smile.
So, Morrison's finally broken free of always being called a great black [Photo] author to being called simply a great American author only to find herself bordered-off, segregated again.
Of course, Morrison's in good company in her section. I mean, some of my favorite authors are black, you know. [Photo] Richard Wright and James Baldwin also share black space with her. [Photo]
I'm glad publishers finally understand that black people do read, and they are publishing our work. I'm glad that Borders has found black writers to be so lucrative that its marketing department has created a section just for black literature.
I'm sure the segregation makes locating black authors more convenient for readers. How shopper friendly! However, Toni Morrison is a great American writer. At the very least she should be in both sections, Literature and African-American literature.
Now that black authors are coming into their own in the book industry, I suppose the next hurdle will be integration...again. Or perhaps book stores and publishers will begin keeping track of black authors the same way the record industry does: "Hip Hop, R&B, and oh, the lucky bastards...Crossover."
Tootles, y'all, Nordette PS: [Photo] <<----Borders Marketing Staff: "Ugh! Damned if you do, damned if you don't." PSS: For those wondering what the hell Toni Morrison has to do with New Jersey, well, it pays to have Princeton University in your backyard.
12 Comments
Close this window Return to African-American Books ExaminerWell, Nordette. This is CLASSIC! It's like a political cartoon, just no pictures. However, you've painted the commentary extremely well in words. I was nodding, knowingly, and howling with laughter all the way through it. BRAVO!
10:58 PM
I have mixed views. First, I must admit, it is a little offensive to see someone at the literary caliber of Toni Morrison to be clumped together with any old novel (that may be poorly written) just because they are of the same race and their last names begins with "M". However, I think that these labels can be a bit of a distraction, "American" "African American" - how about, it's good to know its in a bookstore and not at a flea market (which is where I bought her book Paradise, for $3 - hardcover too!). I don't think we should beg to be included in the American or Literature genre, and if readers find their cataloguing offensive, then go buy or order her books from an independent Black bookstore. Borders doesn't need the money.
Also, it would be interesting to know, how does Morrison categorize the book? If its categorized like: African-American / American Literature...then the bookstores can choose which category to shelf it under.
PhillyWrites
8:16 AM
Lindell writes,
First, allow me to say that I am not a fan of Toni Morrison's work. I agree that she is a magnificent writer and a literary icon-- but for me, after "Song of Solomon," I've found her work to be especialy distant. It just doesn't do it for me. I think that Toni Morrison writes for other writers and intellectuals, not for common, everyday folk.
Now, that being said, I would think her work should be categorized with classic American authors and African-American writers.
Fundamentally, though, our friends at Borders are in the book-selling business which is, more than two-thirds of the time, a 'point-of-purchase' emotional reaction. The marketing theory is that if you arrive at Borders looking for something by Cornel West, and whilst in that section, you see a copy of "Song of Solomon" and you think: "Damn, my 16-year niece should read that book," you'll buy it. Borders makes money. The idea of niche-based marketing and compartmentalization in the book selling busiiness is driven by focus groups and MBA types. I would think that in smaller, more intimate bookstores (where they happen to still exist), Ms. Morrison would be in both sections-- as she should be.
Just my thoughts....
12:04 PM
Interestingly enough, Amy Tan wrote of the same thing in her book "The Opposite of Fate (A Book of Musings)"-- that she is perpetually categorized not even as an "author of color", but always as an "Asian-American Woman" Writer, no matter what award she may win. Even when she was being asked for permission to have parts of her books used in lit anthologies, or used in Lit classes, it was always to underscore the "Asian-American Woman's" experience. Left her wondering if she would ever be in a category with Twain or Cheever or Faulkner, who also wrote from the standpoint of their backgrounds and experiences, or was there no room in Literature at Large for someone who fit in a tidy Category?
(also on: http://www.livejournal.com/community/griots/8317.html?view=8829#t8829 )
12:15 PM
This is why I shop online. You don't have to deal with the segregated "genres." The Quality Paperback Club has some great deals and anthologies by Toni Morrison @ qbp.com.
2:37 PM
True. I often shop online, but I love a good bookstore with bookworm atmosphere. The smaller, intimate shops are good for that, not the chains that much. Plus it's hard to mingle with mingle with flesh and blood online. Nordette ;-)
3:24 PM
Hi Nordette,
Great commentary! If they are going to make a distinction, then they should also include Thomas Jefferson who is rumored to have black ancestry as well fathered black children and of course Bill Clinton...nuff said!
Anthony
1:06 PM
From Steven Hart
You don't mention which Borders you were at, but I checked out the one in East Brunswick and yes indeed they have Toni Morrison in a separate African-American lit section. (They didn't have any John Edgar Wideman -- tut tut.) The clerk said the categorization of certain authors reflected a company-wide policy and was not a decision made by individual stores.
My informal research then took me to the Barnes & Noble in Hoboken, where there was no separate African-American section (though there was a rack of hip-hop fiction titles like "Round the Way Girlz" right by the cash registers -- pretty sweet placement for those authors). Toni Morrison was in the Fic&Lit seciton alongside Omar Tyree and Alice Walker. Walter Mosley was in the mystery section. No John Edgar Wideman -- bummer.
On the other hand, the Barnes & Noble in North Brunswick had a separate African-American section (they've got more elbow room than the Hoboken shop) but still had Toni Morrison in the Fic&Lit section. (I forgot to ask about John Edgar Wideman.) The zombie who answered the phone had no idea if the categorizations were based on any company-wide policy, but from these examples it would seem they're a little looser about it than Borders. Maybe a call to the flacks for both companies would advance the discussion.
Any halfway-smart store manager would want to stock Morrison's books in both sections, I think, if only to cast as wide a sales net as possible. I always see "Song of Solomon" and "Beloved" whenever Borders and other bookstores put out tables of "Suggested Summer Reading" titles, so any barriers seem to be fairly porous.
I wonder what Morrison herself would have to say about it. Artists strive to make their works as broad and encompassing as possible, then they have to submit to being herded like so many camels through the needle's eye of the publishing industry.
1:16 PM
Bingo, Steven! :-)
War of The Roses Part 17,689
1:23 PM
Oh, BTW, that's Steven Hart of The Opinion Mill
1:51 PM
To Nordette from Your Fellow Movie Slut: I think Borders did the right thing but they just did not go far enough. I am shocked that all books aren't categorized racially. Since everyone's DNA has African ancestery then shouldn't there be sections for Greek-Africans, and Roman-Africans, and French-Africans, and Japanese-Africans, etc., and for all those born in their second countries of origin -- let's say the United States -- there would be sections for American-Greek-Africans, American-Italian-Africans, and American-Chinese-Africans, etc? Forget about whether it should be called literature, fiction, non-fiction, biography, whatever; let's reflect on the most important thing for a writer: their 'hood.
11:22 AM
why not simply do away with genres altogether and classify literature by continent, huh?! africa here! europe there! asia! australia! the americas! oh, hell... throw antarctica in, too! it's not important what type of book you need... just look through the thousands -- the millions! -- of titles in each section to find your book. yes, the poetry book can now be sandwiched betwixt the romance novel and 5 star movie guide... isn't that what we've always wished for?? yes, as long as we keep the RACES apart... we're good to go! hughes and cummings can not be put together... nah. that'd be confusing! forget about content - stick gloria naylor's selection next to colin powell's autobiography and people will know exactly where to find their book!
sorry about that rant, but essentially i'm just trying to say that you've made an excellent point, as well as brought out some powerful feelings in me. so, thank you!
4:07 AM