Pilate invites the two boys into her house, offers each of them a soft-boiled egg, and tells them stories about growing up in Montour County, Pennsylvania, and about her childhood relationship with her brother, Macon, and her and Macon's escape from Montour County following their father's murder. The narrative now shifts to seven years later, and twelve-year-old Milkman meets seventeen-year-old Guitar, who introduces him to Pilate - Milkman's aunt - and the mysteries of her wine house. After a brief stop results in a minor family crisis, the family heads back home. Lena is intent on keeping the peace between her parents, and Milkman fidgets and finally finds a way to escape his imprisonment - he needs to go to the bathroom. While Corinthians is excited about Macon's plans to establish a beach community at Honoré for 'high class Negroes,' Ruth's comments are generally ignored. For five-year-old Milkman, the trip is 'simply a burden.'ĭuring the drive, the Dead family's strained conversation touches on numerous topics that reveal the family members' personal beliefs and values. Ruth enjoys showing off her family, and Lena and Corinthians like watching the men. Although the drive affords Macon little pleasure, he enjoys the opportunity to flaunt his affluence and prosperity. ♪ ♪ (bass solo) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience applause).It is the summer of 1936, and the Dead family is on their ritual Sunday drive through town in their green Packard. Or green like lettuce, or cucumber, or green like the sky is just before it breaks loose to storm? Saying something is pitch black is like saying something is green. See, you think dark is just one color, but it ain't.Īnd it don't stay still, it moves and changes from one kind of black to another. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (piano stops) JASON: 'We were lost then and talking about dark.

So, we're gonna play a song for Toni Morrison, it's called, Toni Morrison Said Black is a Rainbow. Often, she's talking about this music that happens on this stage.Īnd I wrote a piece for her based on a, a, a fragment or a section of, The Song of Solomon.

For years people have been crying at Toni Morrison novels, and laughing at Toni Morrison novels.īut, what she also does is she paints this music. They sacrificed themselves and tell you about you.įor a lot of us, Toni Morrison is one of these people.ĬHRISTIAN: Sister Morrison, that's right. JASON: 'Cause I think there are people in, in our history who really go through a lot of effort to find a, a meaningful and poetic way to tell you about your life.

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison