Toni Morrison Height, Weight, Age, Husband, Biography, Family & Facts

Toni Morrison (born February 18, 1931 – died August 05, 2019) was an American Novelist, Essayist, Editor, Teacher, and Professor. She gained huge media attention for being the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.

Her real full birth name was Chloe Ardelia Wofford. Morrison penned eleven novels in her successful career. She also wrote numerous children’s books and essay collections. She made her debut with her first book called “The Bluest Eye” in 1970.

It depicts the story of a young Afro-American girl named Pecola who suffered from depression. The book also shows how racism in American affects the lives of young kids and they also think that their skin is ugly.

Recently, on August 05, 2019, the author passed away at the age of 88. On Monday, Toni died at Montefiore Medical Center due to complications of pneumonia. Her publisher named Alfred A. Knopf. first announced the news of her sudden demise. At the time of her death, Morrison resided in Grand View-on-Hudson, New York.

Awards Achievements, Career & Net worth

The 88-year-old late author started her career as a teacher and began teaching English at Texas Southern University in Houston for two years. Later, she worked for the same position at Howard University.

In addition, in 1965, Toni began her job as an editor for L. W. Singer in Syracuse, New York. Later, she became the first black female senior editor at Random House in 1967. The writer released her second novel back in 1973 named Sula.

In fact, he also got nominated for the National Book Award. Then, she gained huge fame after publishing her third book titled “Song of Solomon” (1997). It also became the first novel by an Afro-American writer to be so chosen the Book of the Month Club.

In 2019, the hardworking and talented Toni Morrison’s Net worth is $24 million US Dollars.

The novel also bagged the National Book Critics Circle Award. In 1987, the late artist released her most well-known novel “Beloved“. The story of the project was based on the real-life story of a woman named Margaret Garner who killed her own daughter in order to protect her from slavery.

Beloved won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and an Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. It is the first of three novels about love and African-American history called “the Beloved Trilogy”. In 1992, the second book of the trilogy “Jazz” came out.

In 1993, Toni became the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. The third of her Beloved trilogy “Paradise” published in 1997 and it was about citizens of an all-black town.

Early Life, Parents, Siblings & Education

The Nobel laureate, Toni Morrison was born on the 18th of February 1931 (aged 88 years, as of 2019) in Lorain, Ohio, United States. Her parents were George Wofford (father) and Ramah Wofford (mother).

Furthermore, the author also had three siblings i.e. two brothers Raymond Allen & George Carl Wofford and a sister Lois Brooks. Chloe’s dad used work on various odd jobs and as a welder for U.S. Steel.

Her mom was a homemaker and an active member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Moreover, Toni completed her school education from Lorain High School. Later, she graduated from Howard with a Bachelor of Arts in English degree in 1953.

The professor then earned her a Master of Arts from Cornell University in 1955. In her successful career, Morrison also taught English at two branches of the State University of New York and at Rutgers University: New Brunswick Campus.

Then, in 1984, Wofford also appointed to an Albert Schweitzer chair at the University at Albany and The State University of New York.

Wedding, Spouse & Children

The late Nobel prize winner was a married woman once. She tied the knot with her husband “Harold Morrison” in 1958. Their wedding ceremony was a private ceremony and only a few friends & family members were invited.

Harold was a Jamaican architect and the couple also shared two children together. They had two sons named Slade Morrison and Harold Ford Morrison. According to a source, Toni and her spouse called off their marriage soon and took divorce in 1964.

The writer’s youngest kid, Slade, died of pancreatic cancer and he was in his 40s when he passed away. The young Morrison also collaborated with his mom on five books for children.

Trivia & Quick Info

Some Lesser Known Facts about Toni Morrison

• Wikipedia: At the age of 2, Chloe Ardelia Wofford family’s landlord set their home on fire because her parents were not able to pay the rent.
• Her book “The Big Box” (children’s book) was penned by her then 8-year-old son, Slade.
• Toni’s child, Harold is working as an architect with the Princeton University Plasma Physics Laboratory.
• At 1979 commencement ceremonies, Barnard College honored Morrison with its highest honor i.e. the Barnard Medal of Distinction.
• Physique Details: Toni Morrison’s height stands at 5 feet 6 inches tall (168 cm). Her body gain access to fat and weight is around 85 Kilograms (187 pounds).

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• Furthermore, in 1993, Chloe awarded the National Book Foundation’s Medal of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
• On May 29, 2012, The former US President Barack Obama presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
• In 2016, Morrison also received the PEN/Saul Bellow Award for Achievement in American Fiction.