What is Abel’s ultimate conclusion about race in Morrison’s “Recitatif”?
The text’s heterogeneous inscriptions of race resist a totalizing reading.
Morrison’s use of language and cultural linguistics bring us to the inevitable conclusion that Twyla is black, Roberta is white.
Assigning racialized meanings to cultural accessories such as the Afro, hoop earrings, and a passion for Jimi Hendrix bring us to the surprising understanding that both women are black.
The politically correct but politically naïve implications of the cultural movements presented in the story leave no doubt that Roberta is black and Twyla is white.
Leave a Reply