The Black Mammy and Black Matriarch: Morrison’s Subversion of Deteriorating Stereotypes in Sula

Abstract

This paper examines Toni Morrison’s Sula as a critique and deconstruction of the pervasive stereotypes imposed on Black women and men, including labels such as jezebel, mammy, and matriarch archetypes. By invoking and inverting these reductive labels, Morrison exposes their paradoxical nature and roots in white patriarchal systems. Through characters like Sula, who lives unapologetically on her own terms, and Eva, who defies traditional maternal roles, the novel dismantles the myths surrounding black womanhood. Morrison’s use of irony, parody, and paradox discloses the cognitive dissonance underpinning racist stereotypes and highlights the humanity and complexity of Black identities. Central to the novel’s themes is the exploration of survival strategies in the face of systemic oppression, as seen in Shadrack’s National Suicide Day and Eva’s sacrifices. By challenging these stereotypes, Sula reclaims agency for Black women and underscores the destructiveness of antithetical labels, calling for a deeper understanding of identity and autonomy.