Racial identity and the acceptance of different racial culture is important to the understanding of the way person accept and understand each other. For many authors the racial identity of their characters is important to the development of the plot and to the understanding of the characters and their contribution to the plot. Toni Morrison deviates from the conventions of presenting the racial identity of Roberta and Twyla and this adds to the ambiguous nature of the story. Twyla and Roberta are presented throughout the story as different person who had to learn to deal with each other despite their racial background. The readers must assume that each girl is different in race, but there is no clear indication as to the specific racial background of each girl. To some critics, Morrison creates a different style of writing that will engage the readers in trying to assume the racial identity of each girl. Clearly, Toni Morrison deviates from the conventional style of assigning the racial identity to her characters at the onset of “Recitatif” so that the readers are forced to draw their personal conclusions on the racial identity and tendencies of Roberta and Twyla.
Suspense and mystery in a story is common practices by most writers who want engage their readers in the development of the entire story. The reader clearly sees that Roberta and Twyla belong to different races at the onset of the story, but the reason Morrison does not identify the race of each girl is not clear to the readers. Instead, Morrison successfully develops the character of each of the girls but this development does not lead to the author’s specifications on the race of each girl. In fact, the mystery of the specific race of each girl can lead to confusion for a number of readers. But, some critics have argued that the author’s deliberate omission of the race of each girl goes not create a challenge for readers as it has no significant impact on the development of the plot.
But for the most part, one could argue that the reader must now accept the challenge of trying to shift from one assumption to another about the racial background of the girls. But quite frankly Morrison uses this method in her writing to keep the readers guessing and wanting to learn more about the characters. At first reading one would easily assume that Twyla is white and Roberta is black as Twyla recalls her mother telling her: “they never washed their hair and they smelled funny. Roberta sure did.” (Morrison 1). With the racial slurs in the society at the time, the typical white reader would assume that blacks were the worst and yet, the assumption would be different for a black person reading the story. The conclusion would undoubtedly be similar if one were racist and the identity of teach girl would go either way.
Arguably, the identity of the girls would depend largely on the racial background of the reader and does not necessarily reflect the beliefs or thoughts of the writer. Twyla’s attitude towards Big Bozo placing her with the complete stranger also drives the readers make the assumption about Roberta’s race. But again one could easily argue that the identity of the girls depends largely on the readers. Twyla tells Big Bozo” “my mother won t like you putting me here” (Morrison 1) and this racial slur leave the reader to assume that a white person would not be entirely thrilled by the prospect of putting her white daughter to live with a black girl. But, it could also mean that Morrison wanted to ensure that the blacks maintained a presence in the novel and as such, Twyla would represent the black voice that speaks out against the racial divide in the society.
But Roberta’s lack of interest in trying to determine what Twyla means shows a high level of indifference to racism and racial divide. Twyla is overly concerned because she is paired with someone who she believes is inferior to her because of her race. She is not overly with the fact that both of them are victims of the social and economic prejudice in the society. Interestingly, Roberta’ lack of interest in the racial background of Twyla leaves one to conclude that that racism should not be a factor in the bonds that persons attempt to develop. The main theme in the story centers on the way persons treat because of their race. But, the omission of the exact race of each girl also suggests that Morrison attempts to show the readers that race should not be of primary importance in the lives of persons.
In fact, a deeper critical assessment of the story would suggest that the author is not truly concerned with the racial issues of the time, but is more concerned with the social factors that place each girl in the home. In addition, the omission of the specific details of the race of each girl would suggest that each race bears some amount of prejudice towards the other. In fact, racism is not unique to whites or blacks, but persons are willing to look beyond the real issues in the society and make the stereotypical assumption that because one girl was prejudiced against the other, then the racial divide must be between the whites and the blacks because of the historical assertions that whites have always been prejudiced against blacks.
In addition, Morrison again forces the readers to form an opinion of the race of each child based on the actions of their mothers. This assumption would again hold different bearings for the racial background of the reader. One would assume that Twyla s mom, Mary, is white as she dresses in a tight green slacks with her ratty fur jacket and torn pocket linings (Morrison 4). Mary did not bring any food with her, but Roberta’s mother displayed the typical black quality of a poor black woman trying to live above her means and maintaining the historical notion of black women and their love for food and feeding their families. She brought ham sandwiches, chicken legs, an entire box of chocolate-covered grahams and oranges (Morrison 5).
But, once more the scene where the mother’s meet could be reversed as Roberta’s mother shows disgust when she realizes that she is expected to shake the hand of Twyla’s mother (Morrison 5). Conversely, the confusion into which character is black and which character is white intensifies as Twyla’s mother begins to display the vocal and offensive nature of many black women in the society. These women are outspoken when they are offended. Arguably, women in general become defensive if they believe that they have been treated unjustly and this does not justify which character is black or which character is white.
Despite the numerous hints in the story as to which character blacks and which character is white, the readers eventually appreciate “Morrison's deft characterizations [and] the light painting of brushstrokes that left characters indelibly etched on our imaginations” (Harris 14). In fact, Morrison’s style allows the readers further appreciate the “futility of thinking only in absolutes” (Harris 14) because of the skilful “omission of the different races [as] a deliberate act by Morrison” (Harris 14). Morrison does not need to specify the particular race, but critics would surely argue that it makes reading the story less frustrating. Still, the avid reader whose love for the genre has no boundaries could easily overlook the omission and still see each character as victims of the racial and social challenges of the society.
Nonetheless, Morrison gives a closer indication of the race of the girls when she adds the encounters between Twyla and Roberta at Howard Johnson’s. Roberta’s companions wear facial hair and their heads were covered with facial hair (Morrison 7). The image immediately draws the assumption that these were African descendants with some form of Afro styles that were similar to Roberta’s. Morrison does not delve further into the details and neither does she offer further details of their appearances that would give concrete proof of their race. Arguably, the omission of the specific references to race in the story would not make much of a difference as the readers understand the author’s message clearly. However, if one truly wants to guess at the race of the characters it becomes more apparent when Morrison alludes to the latter years and the fact that Twyla married James Benson whose name can be connected to the black sitcom in the 1980s.
In concluding, Morrison successfully leaves many readers guessing as to the race of the girls and yet, the author is comfortable doing this to the readers. Clearly she wants to readers to move away from the racial codes that help to determine the discourses that help to determine the race of the characters. Critics continue to debate on Morrison’s need to omit this information, but the truth is that the specific race of the girls is not important as Morrison’s theme in the story runs clearly. She wishes to show the readers that persons, even children, can be prejudiced and it does not matter which of the girls were black or white. In addition, the plot in the story does not reveal a demand to know which of the character is black and which character is white. The essence of the story however lies in the author’s desire for the readers to appreciate the ways in which person’s relate to each other in general.
Works Cited
Harris, Trudier, “Toni Morrison: Solo flight through Literature into History” (1994), World
Literature Today, Vol. 68, No. 1. (Winter 1994) pp. 9 – 14, Web 16 Mar 2016 <http://www.jstor.org/stable/40149836>
Stanley, Sandra Kumanoto “Maggie in Toni Morrison’s ‘Recitatif’: The Africanist Presence and
Disability Studies, MELUS Vol 36 Number 2 (Summer 2011) pp. 71 – 88, Web 16 Mar 2016 <http://www.jstor.org/stable/23035281>
Morrison, Toni “Recitatif” Web, 16 Mar 2016
<http://linksprogram.gmu.edu/tutorcorner/NCLC495Readings/Morrison_recitatifessay.doc.pdf>
