'Toni Morrison Day' Proposed In Ohio

LORAIN, OH — Two Ohio politicians have proposed making Toni Morrison's birthday, February 18, a state holiday. A Lorain-native, Morrison won the Nobel Prize for Literature and a host of other awards during her lifetime.

State Representatives Joe Miller, a Democrat from Amherst, and Stephanie Howse, a Democrat from Cleveland, introduced the legislation to create "Toni Morrison Day." The proposal has been sent to the Ohio House Rules and Reference Committee and will receive a bill number and committee assignment.

“Toni Morrison’s life and writing exemplified her unique gift for creating passionate, elegant and timeless literature that is cherished by Ohioans and people around the globe,” said Howse. “Her work stirred our souls, challenged our conscience to confront injustices and encouraged the rest of the world to do the same. I hope that the designation of Toni Morrison Day will set the stage for an entire generation of authors to tell their untold stories and celebrate the beautiful diversity of humanity.”

Morrison died August 6 in New York City after battling an illness. Throughout her distinguished career, Morrison wrote 11 novels, including "Beloved," and many of her stories focused on the realities of being black in America. She won the Noble Prize, the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, National Book Foundation's Medal of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Morrison was also the first African-American woman to become an editor at Random House. She helped publish the works of Muhammad Ali, Angela Davis, Huey P. Newton, Toni Cade Bambara and more.

“In the Lorain area, Toni Morrison has long been a source of inspiration for our youth,” said Miller. “Her legacy is one of perseverance, dedication to education and leadership by example. I am hopeful that the designation of Toni Morrison Day will remind all Ohioans to learn from the body of work that inspired so many during her lifetime.”

Read more about Toni Morrison on Patch.