Masculinity in Beloved

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Masculinity in Beloved

Brief musings on masculinity and fascism and my current qualms with Beloved

Jasmyne Gilbert

Feb 12, 2026

Pinterest image of Toni Morrison posing with a first edition copy of her novel Beloved from 1987 — Toni Morrison posing with a first edition copy of her novel *Beloved* from 1987 | Image Credit: caj on Pinterest

I’ve been re-reading Beloved for my dissertation, and, while watching the video below with Matt Bernstein, FD Signifier, and Caroline Kwan, I had a little epiphany about how Morrison’s depictions of masculine figures in the novel resonate with contemporary politics.

Addendum 2/18/26: A friend shared this piece by Donovan X. Ramsey on masculinity in Toni Morrison’s works that is a great accompaniment to this voice note. Please check it out.

Had Happened

Toni Morrison’s Men

When we talk about Toni Morrison, we often begin in the interior lives of Black women. We talk about Sethe’s grief. Pecola’s longing. Sula’s defiance. Pilate’s wisdom. And rightly so. But to read Morrison closely is also to encounter a quie…

16 days ago · 54 likes · 8 comments · Donovan X. Ramsey

Enjoy this short little voice note,1 and please let me know if you have thoughts in the comments!

Please excuse the background noise. I did very little editing to the voice note before sharing it, and I am a real human person with real chores like running the dryer for my laundry lol!

Jasmyne Gilbert

Masculinity in Beloved

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