Toni Morrison’s “Sweetness” is an example of Black Women’s Literature, which represents the experiences, struggles, and aspirations of Black women in society and the way they navigate complex cultural, social, and political contexts. In “Sweetness,” Morrison explores colorism–“the ranking of color in terms of its closeness to white people” (“Toni Morrison Looks Back on Her Personal Life”)–within the context of Black women’s experiences. Sweetness is unable to accept her dark-skinned daughter, Lula Ann, due to her internalized self-hatred and societal pressure. Through Sweetness, Morrison portrays the way in which Black women are conditioned to value light skin as a sign of beauty, social status, and acceptance.

Morrison also explores the theme of Mother-Daughter Relationships within the context of Black women’s experiences. The strained relationship between Sweetness and Lula Ann as well as Sweetness’s mother and grandmother reflects the complex dynamics of Black mother-daughter relationships, shaped by intergenerational trauma, societal pressures, and cultural expectations. These ideas are also explored in novels from Nella Larsen’s Passing (1929) to Brit Bennett’s The Mothers (2016). Through the relationship between Sweetness and Lula Ann, Morrison portrays the way in which Black women navigate their relationships with their mothers and the challenges that they face in developing their own identities.

“Sweetness” can be situated within the broader tradition of Black Women’s Literature, which has emerged from the voices of Black women writers such as Alice Walker, Audre Lorde, and Zora Neale Hurston. These writers explore the unique experiences of Black women and the intersections of race, gender, and class in their literary works.