
Toni Morrison
Editorial Legacy and
Literary and Artistic
Freedom Conference
September 21, 23, and 24, 2026 at Stony Brook University
Co-Convenors: Yolanda Mackey-Barkers and Tracey Walters
12:30 - 2:00 pm: Community Reading of Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye
LOCATION: 1008 Humanities
Registration Coming Soon!
Students, faculty, staff, and the larger Stony Brook community will be invited to share their favorite passage from Morrison’s The Bluest Eye.
12:00 pm to 12:30 pm: Viewing of documentary (Un)Banning Toni Morrison
LOCATION: 1008 Humanities
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm: Artist Discussion and Banned Books Panel
LOCATION: 1008 Humanities
- Kasandra Pantoja, artist
- Dr. Ileana Jiménez, SBU, Department of English
- Christine Fena, SBU, Library Representative
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Artist Collage Workshop (Registration required, capped at 15 participants)
LOCATION: 1008 Humanities
This hands-on workshop will be facilitated by Kasandra Pantoja for students and faculty to create their own piece of Banned Book themed artwork. Materials will be supplied.
11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Undergrad panel with Dana A. Williams (Registration required)
LOCATION: Special Collections, E-2340 (Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library)
Students will have the chance to ask Dr. Williams questions about her process writing Toni at Random and working with archives.
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm: Book Signing with Dana A. Williams
LOCATION: Humanities 1009
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm: Visible Ink: The Art of Black Women's Literary Biography Dr. Dana A. Williams
Run Run Shaw Lecture (Registration is free and strongly suggested)
LOCATION: Humanities Institute Lecture Hall (1006 Humanities)
Dr. Williams will give the keynote address for our conference, focusing on her recent book, Toni at Random, which offers a close look at Morrison’s work as an editor alongside her literary legacy.
Co-Sponsors: Departments of Africana Studies, Art, Creative Writing, English, History, Writing and Rhetoric, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; FAHSS; Humanities Insititute at Stony Brook; Run Run Shaw Lecture Series; Provost’s Office; Dean’s Office; Graduate School; Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library; Center for Changing Systems of Power