Toni Morrison's Lorain

Dsecription

Darlene Brown was a Lorain journalist--the first African American reporter and longtime columnist for the Lorain Journal (currently, Morning Journal). She interviewed Toni Morrison several times and reported the writer for Lorainites. When news of Toni Morrison’s Nobel Prize in Literature reached Lorain in October 1993, Brown paid tribute to the Lorain-born writer in this beautifully written article. "Nobel or Not, Toni Morrison's Our Prize" was published on October 14, 1993, in the Morning Journal.  

Sunday church was a must in the Wofford household. The whole family went to St. Matthew A.M.E. Church, 407 W. 21st St., near the corner of Lexington Avenue. That’s where Toni and Lois were members of the youth choir, and Rev. Francis Gohler, was the pastor.

When the minister would get fired up over his own sermon, he would often say, “You can do whatyuwill or may,” causing the two young sisters to look at one another and ask of each other, “Who’s Willa Mae?” and burst into laughter.

The youth choir that Toni and Lois sang in was formed by their mother, with Donna Lee Jones and Bernice Tolliver sharing piano duties, and Irene Garland, director.

After church service, and while the parents were busy greeting their friends, the corner store, adjacent to the church, was the place where all the kids flocked. There were more bags of penny-candy business leaving that store on Sunday then the proprietor probably did all week long.

She is, and always was “somebody.” In the background, her family played an important role of being some of the characters in her books. They also gave her their support in staying strong, like the Willis women were--on the mother’s side of the family.

We thank you, Toni Morrison, for your vision, your strength, patience, peace, and most of all your dedication to the steel town that was your birthing place.

You’ve done us good.