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Toni Morrison’s ‘Beloved’ chosen as National Endowment of the Arts annual Big Read

Lorain County agencies have planned several months of diverse programming for audiences of all ages inspired by Toni Morrison’s “Beloved” through the National Endowment of the Arts annual Big Read.

Lorain Public Library System, Lorain Historical Society, Oberlin Public Library, Oberlin Heritage Center and Community Foundation of Lorain County all will offer programming, according to a news release.

The National Endowment for the Arts’ Big Read is a community-wide reading initiative that unites people around a single, powerful book to spark meaningful conversations, celebrate local creativity and deepen connections, the release said.

This year, “Beloved” takes center stage, offering the Lorain Public Library System and its partners the opportunity to create dynamic programs that honor the community’s history and resilience while showcasing the enduring impact of Morrison’s extraordinary legacy, according to the release.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Morrison was born Chloe Wofford on Feb. 18, 1931, in Lorain.

Morrison was a critically acclaimed and hometown hero who became the first Black woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Morrison frequently remarked that her experiences growing up in Northeast Ohio were a prolific and monumental influence on her writing.

“While writing ‘Beloved,’ Morrison immersed herself in Ohio history to understand our region’s treatment of Black individuals before and after the Civil War,” the release said. “In fact, several Lorain County cities were locations along the Underground Railroad.”

Oberlin’s connections to the Underground Railroad are well documented as the town generally was known as a safe area for freedom-seekers, and this history was honored by the Toni Morrison Foundation with the installation of the “Bench by the Road” in the city in 2009.

As the Lorain historical marker at Black River Landing explains, Capt. Aaron Root transported people aboard his ships while crossing Lake Erie so they could find freedom in Canada.

“Featuring ‘Beloved” allows (Lorain Public Library System) and our community partners to have poignant conversations about both the importance of Black history and the significance of local anti-slavery efforts within our community,” says Jennifer Winkler, chief operating officer for the Lorain Public Library System, in the release. “So, that the sacrifices of these individuals are not forgotten and we continue to learn from our past.”