If you opened Tar Baby randomly and pointed to a sentence, chances are that it would be a sentence about racial conflict. Jade and Son argue about the best way to live as a black person in the modern world. The Dominicans Thérèse and Gideon loathe the black American servants, Sydney and Ondine, who have come to their country to serve white masters. And on top of that, the rich, white Valerian Street treats everyone around him (especially his black servants) with neglect, even though he thinks of himself as a great guy. Throughout this book, Toni Morrison shows us some of the problems that can arise not only between different races, but within these races.
Questions About Race
- Do you identify closely with any particular character in this text? Which one(s)? Why?
- Is it fair to call Valerian and Margaret racists? Why or why not? Use specific examples from the text to support your answer.
- Do you think Morrison offers any insight into how we might solve some of the racial tensions in this book? Please support your answer with evidence from the text.
- Why do you think Morrison decides to include Thérèse and Gideon in this book? How do they complicate her portrayal of racial tensions?
Chew on This
In Tar Baby, Toni Morrison shows us that racial tension goes way beyond simple binaries like black and white; racism is actually a giant network of tensions that spread between and within different races.
In Tar Baby, Morrison suggests that it's possible to judge people without concern for their race.