"The importance of black literature in America has turned on its relation to the canon, and its proximity to political usefulness. The art and biographies of groundbreaking black figures are often turned into blunt tools with which anodyne lessons about equality and acceptance are fashioned."
"Namwali Serpell's On Morrison is an intervention into this literary siloing, a work of bracing, rigorous, and thrilling critical appraisal not just of Toni Morrison's evolution as a writer of fiction, but of the richness and complexity of the black literary tradition."
"With On Morrison, Serpell marshals both her fictive imagination and her critical acumen to bring forth knotted, uncompromising, and often surprising aspects of Morrison's work."
"Her epic speculative debut, The Old Drift, blends historical fiction with science fiction, stretching from the Zambezi River to outer space."
Black literature in America is often viewed through a lens of political usefulness, reducing its artistic merit. Works by figures like James Baldwin and Maya Angelou are frequently presented as lessons in equality, overshadowing their literary significance. Namwali Serpell's 'On Morrison' challenges this perspective by offering a critical appraisal of Toni Morrison's work, highlighting the complexity of the black literary tradition. Serpell's background as a novelist and critic enriches her exploration of Morrison's contributions, emphasizing the importance of understanding the artist's work beyond mere biography.
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