Tar Baby

Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison is a Nobel Writing recipient for her books that portray American life, specifically black American life, both within black communities and/or in racial interactions with white Americans. These books are designed to keep the reader thinking long after the final page is finished and the cover closed. Tar Baby is one of these fascinating books.

Is Tar Baby a portrait of racial relations between the rich whites, the Streets, and their black servants, Sydney and Onadine? Or between the Streets and their protegee, Jadine, the niece of the servants? Or is it a portrait of a December/May wealthy marriage? Perhaps it's a picture of the Streets and their absent son Michael? Or the relationship between Sydney and Onadine and their niece who has been raised in private schools and with the privileges the Streets were able to survive? The answer to all of these, of course, is yes, it's a slice-of-life tale describing them all.

Most of the action takes place on a secluded island in the Caribbean. Valerian Street had bought it over 30 years before as his retirement home. His beautiful younger wife Margaret visits him throughout the year, including at Christmas. This Christmas Jadine is visiting as well, and Margaret is also hoping their son, Michael, will join them. Michael has been avoiding his parents most of his adult life. This group has an uneasy relationship that has a thin veneer of civility between the Streets, Sydney and his wife Onadine, and Jadine. When a black man is found hidden in their home, Valerian welcomes Son as a visitor. Son is the fuse that could light the powderkeg of hidden secrets.

There are so many threads interwoven throughout this novel. Tar Baby shows the mindset of the different people. Jadine is black, but was raised with the privileges of the rich class. Sydney and Onadine are black, and have spent their adult lives serving Valerian and Margaret Street. Valerian Street was raised in a prosperous household and knew no other life. Margaret had been the local beauty, and was Miss Maine when Valerian found and married her while still an teenager. Son was raised in a poor Southern black community and knew both the overt and covert rejections from white society.

I recommend this novel. It is easier to read than the other Morrison novels I have read. Yet it carries layers of meaning that need to be delved into. Don't expect a light read. Do expect a worthwhile experience.

This book is out of print.