Summary

In “Hard, True, and Lasting” Morrison only briefly poses the question of what it is about her own culture that she finds significant, precious, praise-worthy, and proceeds to examine how her own writing tries to preserve elements of that culture in a country where it is deemed to be ‘alien.’

Then, Morrison, proceeds to Part II of her book, “God’s Language.” She opens with “James Baldwin Eulogy,” where she thanks her friend and idol James Baldwin for his contributions to literature, language, and culture. She calls him courageous in his representations of black culture, as well as humane, representative, and tender. Speaking for herself as well as other black artists and readers, she says, “Jimmy… you crowned us” (232). In “The Site of Memory,” Morrison justifies her inclusion in a series of talks on autobiography by showing how...