Toni Morrison’s contribution to the American literary canon cannot be overstated. In light of her recent passing, we’ve been reflecting on her remarkable life and work, and her profound influence on readers and writers. Morrison’s debut novel, The Bluest Eye, was published in 1970. She went on to craft ten more novels, as well as nonfiction books and children’s literature. Throughout her career, she won numerous awards, notably becoming the first Black woman to be honored with the Nobel Prize for Literature, and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In addition to writing, Morrison taught at Howard University and Princeton and was an editor at a publishing house, where she worked with Angela Davis, Huey P. Newton, and Muhammed Ali, among others. Morrison was a powerful speaker; future generations will hear her voice preserved in the many recordings of her interviews and speeches. Avid fans will want to watch the feature-length documentary on her life, The Pieces I Am, released July 2019. As a writer, teacher, and editor, her influence and impact on writers and readers everywhere is truly remarkable.