Episode 19: Tar Baby

In this episode of Booked and Banned, Naomi welcomeslongtime friend and veteran educator Rhonda to discuss Toni Morrison’s 1981 novel, Tar Baby. While less frequently targeted than some of Morrison's other works, Tar Baby has faced challenges in schools and libraries. Critics often cite explicit content or language as the reason for removal,though these objections frequently mask a deeper discomfort with the book’s rigorous critique of Western values and social hierarchies.Moving between a Caribbean island estate and the streets ofNew York, the story follows the volatile romance between Jadine Childs, a Sorbonne-educated model, and Son, a charismatic fugitive. Their relationship serves as a battleground for competing ideas of Black identity, class, andcultural authenticity.The conversation explores the haunting atmosphere of theIsle des Chevaliers, where the landscape itself seems to judge the characters' choices. Naomi and Rhonda examine the friction between Jadine’s Western assimilation and Son’s rural roots, as well as the complicated power dynamics within the Street household. They also discuss the novel's history of censorship, often sparked by Morrison’s frank portrayal of racial and sexual tensions. By re-examining the folklore of the trickster and the tar baby, this episode looks at the sacrifices made when individuals attempt to navigate worlds that demand the erasure of their heritage.Key Discussion Points:Environmental Psychology: How the personified Caribbean landscape and the mythic presence of the swamp women and blind horsemen reflect the internal struggles of the protagonists.The Conflict of Authenticity: A comparison of Jadine’s cosmopolitan lifestyle and Son’s connection to his Florida home, and why one character may feel more authentic in their identity than the other.Class and Service: The uneasy relationship between the wealthy Streets and their servants, Sydney and Ondine, highlighting how economic necessity can mimic loyalty.Folklore Reclaimed: An analysis of the tar baby and trickster archetypes, exploring who is setting the traps and who is attempting to escape them.The Cost of Belonging: A final reflection on the necessity of maintaining a complete identity while moving between different social and cultural worlds.Next Episode: A discussion of City of Thieves by David Benioff.