Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this interview from 1991, novelist and editor Toni Morrison discusses the vital role public libraries play in society, education, and culture. She shares how her life was enriched by access to libraries, and how these institutions help shape and preserve history, literature, and the arts.
Chapter Markers
00:00:00 Toni Morrison explains the role of the New York Public Library
00:03:32 The New York Public Library as a symbol of democracy
00:07:07 Libraries’ Impact on Growth and Development
00:10:43 The Schomburg Center’s stewardship of Black American Culture and History
00:14:05 African American Art and Culture at The Schomburg Center, La Mama Theater, and The Negro Ensemble Company
00:19:49 The Schomburg Center’s Impact on Black Identity and Experiences
00:23:04 Accessibility to Education
00:27:01 The New York Public Library: New York City’s Heartbeat
00:29:51 Libraries and Civilization
00:32:36 Morrison’s Affection for Librarians
00:35:13 Libraries as Teachers
00:36:31 The New York Public Library’s Mission
00:38:50 Morrison’s Fears for the Future of Libraries in The U.S.
00:42:30 Morrison’s Hopes for The New York Public Library
About Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison was a Novel Prize-winning novelist. She was born on February 18, 1931. Morrison studied at Howard and Cornell Universities, then taught English at several universities, including Howard, Yale, and Princeton. Between 1965 and 1983, she worked as an editor at Random House, becoming the first Black female editor in the publishing house’s fiction department. In 1970, Morrison debuted as an author with her novel, The Bluest Eye. Her third novel, Song of Solomon, brought her national recognition, winning the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1977. Her fifth novel, Beloved, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1988, and in 1993, Morrison became the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Morrison wrote 11 novels, many of which chronicled the lives of Black Americans, addressing race and gender relations while building upon folklore and historical accounts. Morrison also wrote children’s books with her son Slade until his death in 2010. Morrison has been awarded numerous literary awards, as well as honorary doctorates at universities such as Harvard, Howard, Princeton, and Oxford. In 2012, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and in 2020 was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Morrison passed away on August 5, 2019 at the age of 88.
Interviewee: Toni Morrison
Interviewed by: Peter Kunhardt
Interview Date: January 19, 1991
About Life Stories:
As a division of the Kunhardt Film Foundation, Life Stories is a non-profit media organization that creates and distributes documentaries and interviews about people whose lives inspire meaningful change. Our films, interviews and educational content address issues of social justice, history, politics, arts and culture by shining the spotlight on relatable human stories. The aim of our YouTube Channel is to provide open access to all of our content for communities and classrooms.
©️ Kunhardt Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Teaching resources: lifestories.org/learning/resources-items
Subscribe for more free documentaries: youtube.com/@lifestoriesdotorg?sub_confirmation=1
In this interview from 1991, novelist and editor Toni Morrison discusses the vital role public libraries play in society, education, and culture. She shares how her life was enriched by access to libraries, and how these institutions help shape and preserve history, literature, and the arts.
Chapter Markers
00:00:00 Toni Morrison explains the role of the New York Public Library
00:03:32 The New York Public Library as a symbol of democracy
00:07:07 Libraries’ Impact on Growth and Development
00:10:43 The Schomburg Center’s stewardship of Black American Culture and History
00:14:05 African American Art and Culture at The Schomburg Center, La Mama Theater, and The Negro Ensemble Company
00:19:49 The Schomburg Center’s Impact on Black Identity and Experiences
00:23:04 Accessibility to Education
00:27:01 The New York Public Library: New York City’s Heartbeat
00:29:51 Libraries and Civilization
00:32:36 Morrison’s Affection for Librarians
00:35:13 Libraries as Teachers
00:36:31 The New York Public Library’s Mission
00:38:50 Morrison’s Fears for the Future of Libraries in The U.S.
00:42:30 Morrison’s Hopes for The New York Public Library
About Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison was a Novel Prize-winning novelist. She was born on February 18, 1931. Morrison studied at Howard and Cornell Universities, then taught English at several universities, including Howard, Yale, and Princeton. Between 1965 and 1983, she worked as an editor at Random House, becoming the first Black female editor in the publishing house’s fiction department. In 1970, Morrison debuted as an author with her novel, The Bluest Eye. Her third novel, Song of Solomon, brought her national recognition, winning the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1977. Her fifth novel, Beloved, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1988, and in 1993, Morrison became the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Morrison wrote 11 novels, many of which chronicled the lives of Black Americans, addressing race and gender relations while building upon folklore and historical accounts. Morrison also wrote children’s books with her son Slade until his death in 2010. Morrison has been awarded numerous literary awards, as well as honorary doctorates at universities such as Harvard, Howard, Princeton, and Oxford. In 2012, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and in 2020 was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Morrison passed away on August 5, 2019 at the age of 88.
Interviewee: Toni Morrison
Interviewed by: Peter Kunhardt
Interview Date: January 19, 1991
About Life Stories:
As a division of the Kunhardt Film Foundation, Life Stories is a non-profit media organization that creates and distributes documentaries and interviews about people whose lives inspire meaningful change. Our films, interviews and educational content address issues of social justice, history, politics, arts and culture by shining the spotlight on relatable human stories. The aim of our YouTube Channel is to provide open access to all of our content for communities and classrooms.
©️ Kunhardt Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
---
Teaching resources: lifestories.org/learning/resources-items
Subscribe for more free documentaries: youtube.com/@lifestoriesdotorg?sub_confirmation=1
