One idea that stood out in Morrison’s writing was that the “desire for freedom is preceded by oppression” (210). Many times I feel we get caught up in talking about freedom and what it means without realizing why we even need to talk about it. Many people for centuries have been denied certain freedoms. Morrison talks specifically about African Americans and immigrants, and she discusses how a history of struggle and oppression creates the need for freedom. Over time, we tend to forget oppression and the past. We think that the past doesn’t affect us anymore, but it is around us everyday. Ignoring the past will not get us anywhere because we will not be able to see freedoms that are being oppressed today. Everyone deserves freedom, and people tend to turn a blind eye to things they think do not affect them. It is important to know the past and recognize oppression in the world today.
I chose Toni Morrison, John Locke, and Karl Marx for authors to discuss these three questions:
- What created the need for freedom?
- How is humanity shown in the world?
- Why are people’s identities shaped by how the world sees them?