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Introduction
Like Morrisons other work, Recitatif focuses on the issue of prejudice and racial identity. However, in the short story, the races of the main characters are concealed. Although the author indicates that one of Roberta and Twyla is white and the other black, it is ambiguous which is which. On the other hand, Maggie is described as being sandy-colored (Morrison 1423). While Roberta insists that Maggie is black, Twyla refutes the idea. Ambiguity concerning Maggies racial identity is central to the narrative. Morrison uses this to convey race as an arbitrary social construct whose actuality is due to the prejudices and racial notions generated by peoples minds. The plot of Tori Morrisons Recitatif is periodic, as it focuses on different racial encounters between the two main characters, Roberta and Twyla.
Analysis
Despite having lived together at St. Bonnys for about two decades, Roberta and Twyla had not previously disagreed over Maggies race. However, even at a young age, both characters were mindful of race and racism. Such is evident when Twyla conveys concerns about sharing a room with a girl from a whole other race (Morrison 1422). Twyla also recalls the various races she had previously encountered, All kinds of kids were in there, black ones, white ones, even two Koreans (Morrison 1423). Although St. Bonnys is racially diverse, the notion of racial prejudice does not escape the childrens attention.
Throughout the narrative, Morrison submits inconsistent clues concerning the racial identity of Twyla and Roberta that are revealing of readers prejudices and assumptions regarding race. For instance, Twyla recalls Mary indicating that people of Robertas descent never washed their hair and smelled funny (Morrison 1422). This hints at racist preconceptions concerning Afro-textured hair. However, given the amount of attention that goes into styling Afro-textured hair, it is unclear which racial direction Marys prejudice is targeted.
The author further obscures the characters races during the conflict concerning school integration. This section of the narrative reveals the socioeconomic differences between Roberta and Twyla. While Roberta lives among executives and doctors, Twyla recognizes that half of her citys population is on welfare. Twyla indicates that racial strife had affected the district in which she and Roberta resided, which had led to her son being bussed out of school (Morrison 1436). Although the two disagree on the policy leading to the incident, their stand on racial integration is ambiguous. The disagreement is also not revealing of their racial identities because ones attitude towards integration is not indicative of their race, especially when it concerns bussing children out of school.
Conclusion
Morrison conveys racial identitys arbitrary nature when both Twyla and Roberta assert, I wonder what made me think you were different (Morrison 1437). Arguably, Robertas and Twylas preconceived notions of the other race had led them to believe that they were different, only to realize they were wrong. However, given the racial ambiguity in Recitatif, the statement could have a hidden connotation. In a different context, the statement could suggest racial conciliation: why did I think that we would be different when we are so much alike in actuality? Despite the apparent differences between Roberta and Twyla, the short story is revealing of arbitrary social conditions. Although racism and race are central aspects of reality and the world in which the characters exist, beyond the stereotypes, people share similar values.
Works Cited
Morrison, Toni. Recitatif. 1983. The Norton Anthology of American Literature, edited by Robert S. Levine, shorter 9th ed., vol. II, W.W. Norton, 2017, pp. 1422-42.
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