In Recitatif, Toni Morrison uses ambiguity and the absence of explicit racial markers to explore the complexities of identity, memory, and race. Morrison mentions race early in the story between Twyla and Roberta, noting that one girl is black. She does not specify which girl is black and which is white. The two girls come to St. Bonnie’s at the age of eight because of problems with their mothers. Twyla’s mother dances all night and Roberta’s mother is ill.When Toni Morrison wrote about their mothers’ problems, she did not state that a mother who is ill is neither black nor white or a mother who dances is neither black nor…

In Recitatif, Toni Morrison uses ambiguity and the absence of explicit racial markers to explore the complexities of identity, memory, and race. Morrison mentions race early in the story between Twyla and Roberta, noting that one girl is black. She does not specify which girl is black and which is white. The two girls come to St. Bonnie’s at the age of eight because of problems with their mothers. Twyla’s mother dances all night and Roberta’s mother is ill.When Toni Morrison wrote about their mothers’ problems, she did not state that a mother who is ill is neither black nor white or a mother who dances is neither black nor…