“HEAR A TUA MÃE”: BLACK WOMANHOOD, ENSLAVEMENT AND NEO-SLAVE NARRATIVES IN A MERCY BY TONI MORRISON

Abstract

This research, originally initiated within the framework of the project "Silenced voices: slavery and literature of female authorship in Brazil and the United States," delves into a comprehensive analysis of A Mercy (2008) by renowned African American author Toni Morrison. The primary aim of this research is to position A Mercy as a contemporary neo-slave narrative, elucidating the portrayal of black women during the period of American slavery present in the narrative, all within the nuanced context of this specific literary genre. A focal point of our investigation centers on the multifaceted ruptures within mother-daughter relationships, which emerge as a direct consequence of the enduring impacts of slavery on the lives of these women. To guide our analytical endeavors, we have adopted an approach that places great emphasis on incorporating the theoretical perspectives of black women. In order to extricate ourselves from the confining controlling images traditionally ascribed to black women, it is imperative to draw closer to the experiences, voices, and perspectives of the very group we are investigating. Our research thus aligns itself with the voices and lived realities of black women, elevating their narratives as integral sources of insight, and also incorporating a theoretical background discussed by black women. This venture not only sheds light on the unique portrayal of black women within neo-slave narratives, but also serves to promote a more comprehensive understanding of the multilayered dimensions of their experiences, thereby fostering an inclusive and diversified landscape within the literary discourse. Through this research, we have unveiled the ruptures of black mother-daughter relationship as a result of slavery. Despite its profound impact on the main character's life in A Mercy, this adversity did not hinder Florens from developing a unique perspective on freedom, serving as a powerful allusion to the broader narrative of black women's often overlooked understanding of freedom.