And Toni Morrison Danced
I am a lover of words so I love Toni Morrison.
I paused when I saw these photographs in a New York Times article.
It immediately became the image on my desktop.
And of course the screensaver on my phone. Hell, I even put it on my vision board.
Toni Morrison was gettin’ it. Being free. Joy across her face. A joy that meets the camera.
And I don’t know why these images caused me to pause and immediately smile. Still. Even in the midst of grief, health issues, a pandemic, and cold weather.
Maybe it’s the no bra for me. The nipple poking through the dress. The sexiness of her pose, her fro, the hoop earrings. The hand up, mouth open as if singing along or yelling to a friend. The pause to acknowledge the camera’s gaze. Then the third photo were there is no acknowledge of Waring Abbot and his camera, just a woman, a Black woman, feeling herself, feeling the music. what does it feel like?
But I wonder about that day. That Tuesday Toni Morrison walked into that club 45 years ago. Did she spend all day at work longing to celebrate and dance that evening? Or did she do nothing but dance that day? When she got ready did she go through different outfits or did she know that dress was the one? Did her friends have to beg her to go out, did she beg them, or did she just go out not caring who came? Who did she dance with that night a stranger, a lover, or friend? Was she annoyed by the camera? Or after a few minutes ignored the photographer and the flash of the camera? What music was playing that she sang along too? What song was the perfect excuse to get off the dance floor? I wonder, but whatever happened that evening, at least we know that she danced.
—Christina