Black women of Academics.

Toni Morris

Toni Morrison:

A literary icon. A woman filled with knowledge and zeal that we are proud to copy. A pearl woman setting the pace for the next generation of writers.

In what seemed like an informal gathering with friends of writers and poets, Toni’s first novel – The bluest eyes was born. She had told the group a short story of a black girl who longed to have blue eyes. Given the positive reactions that she received, she decided to develop the story into a novel, which became a success. Having had a huge success with the bluest of eyes, Toni went on to release her second novel Sula which was to rocket her into the limelight. Sula was nominated for The National Book Award. Although the novel did not make it, she was not going to give in or give up. Morrison went on to release yet another novel Song of Solomon. As soon as Song of Solomon hit the racks, it was literally the BOMB! Song of Solomon won The National Book Critics Circle Award. Making it the second novel by a black writer to be so awarded.

Toni’s 4^th novel Beloved won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and The American Book Award. However failed to win the National Book Award sparking a huge protest from other writers. But later in 1998, Beloved was streamed into a film starring Oprah. 2006 saw Beloved named by The New York Times as the best American Novel published in the last twenty-five years.

Aside her many accolade, Morrison lectured English at the State University of New York. She was later appointed to the Albert Schweitzer chair at the University of Albany, and until retirement, she held the Robert Goheen chair in the humanities at Princeton University(where the first Lady Michelle Obama graduated from) .
She founded the Princeton Atelier to help emerging literary and arts students to collaborate with world class artists. Which has been spectacularly phenomenon.

                        The Facts:

Toni’s Novels and years released:

The bluest of eyes……….1970.

Sula……………………   1973.

Song of Solomon ……….1977.

Beloved …………………1987.

Tan Baby………………  1981.

A Mercy………………….2008

Awards and Honours:

Honourable Doctor of Letters Degree – Rutgers University. ………………………………...                                                                    May, 2011.

Doctor of Letters Degree                    Oxford University……………………………………..                                            .June,2005.

National Book Foundation’s Medal of Distinguished

Contributions to America’s Letters…………………………………………………………………                                       1996.

Nobel Prize in literature……………………………………                                                                       1993.

Pulitzer Prize for fiction………………………………………………                                                              1987.

American Book Award………………………………………………                                                              1987.

Visiting professorship --  Bard college ………………………………………………                                                                          1987.

Barnard Medal of distinction  --  Barnard College………………………………………………..                                                          1979.

National Book Critics Circle Award  ……………………………………………….                                                                          1977.

Pearlwoman!

Prof. Anionwu

Prof. Elizabeth Nneka, Anionwu.

         (RN, PhD, CBE, FRCN).

Prof. Elizabeth is a pearl woman. A nursing educator. An academic promoting a multi-ethnic perspective in nursing and midwifery recruitment, education, research and practice. In 1998, when the centre for the promotion of the above mentioned was established, Elizabeth named it after MarySeacole for her unsung contributions to nursing soldiers in the Crimean war.

Elizabeth was born and raised in Birmingham by her Nigerian parents. Her father; Mr L.O.V Anionwu was a barrister and ambassador to the UK.

She went on to study Nursing and is a Professor and Head of the Mary Seacole centre for nursing practises at Thames Valley University. She is also an Honorary Professor at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

In 1979, Anionwu was appointed the first ever Sickle cell and Thalasseamia counsellor in Britain. She became the head of the Brent Sickle Cell and Thalasseamia centre in 1990. From then on, she lectured at the institute of Child Health, University College London, as the senior lecturer in community and genetic counselling.

Elizabeth’s time in nursing have seen her publish several books in this area, including but not only The politics of Sickle Cell and Thalaseamia, CO written with Dr Karl Atkin and published in 2001 by Open University Press. Also in 2005, she was commissioned to write a short history of Mary Seacole by the Royal College of Nursing.

As we speak, Elizabeth is a member of The King’s Fund Management Committee, The NHS Sickle Cell and Thalaseamia Screening Programme Implementation Group. She is also, the vice chair person  to the Department of Health’s Refugee Health Professional’s Task Force. She is again the patron of the Sickle Cell and Thalaseamia Association of Counsellors. She remains also the treasurer to the Mary Seacole Memorial Statue Appeal. The Queen also has awarded Elizabeth CBE for her services to Nursing.

©Fauntee writes.2012-03-27