Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another

Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another

Toni Morrison, the renowned American novelist and Nobel laureate, is known for her powerful exploration of themes such as race, identity, and freedom in her works. One of the most poignant quotes from Morrison that encapsulates the struggle for self-liberation and self-ownership is, “Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.”

In Morrison’s novels, characters often grapple with the complexities of their own identities and the societal forces that seek to constrain or define them. The process of freeing oneself from these constraints is a difficult and often painful journey, requiring courage, resilience, and self-awareness. However, even after achieving this liberation, the battle is far from over. Claiming ownership of one’s freed self means taking control of one’s own narrative, defining one’s own identity, and resisting the external forces that seek to impose their own narratives onto us.