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United States Presidential Election
Abraham Lincoln won the election making him the 16th President of the United States. The first lady's name was Mary Todd. (Morrison 52) -
Southern States Secede
Seven Southern States (led by S. Carolina) secede. -
Robert E. Lee
Also known as "General Lee," Robert E. Lee was the "Confederate general, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, the most successful of the Southern armies during the American Civil War (1861–65). In February 1865 he was given command of all the Southern armies. His surrender at Appomattox Courthouse April 9, 1865, is commonly viewed as signifying the end of the Civil War" ("Robert E. Lee"). (Morrison 52). -
The Civil War
1861-1865. It was a war between the United States Federal Government and the 11 Southern states which had seceded. It is also known as the "War Between the States" or the war between the North and South. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Declared slaves within the "rebellious jurisdictions" of the Confederacy free. -
Ulysses S. Grant
"U.S. general, commander of the Union armies during the late years (1864–65) of the American Civil War, and 18th president of the United States (1869–77)" ("Ulysses S. Grant"). (Morrison 52) -
Father Divine
Father Divine's "real" name was George Baker. Baker founded and led a religious movement 1878/80-1965. He was viewed and or worshipped as "God, Dean of the Universe, and Harnesser of Atomic Energy" ("Peace Misson"). (Morrison 6). -
Plessy V. Ferguson
On June 1, 1892, Homer Plessy was arrested for sitting in a white carrier of the Louisiana Railroad and violating the Louisiana Separate Car Act of 1890. Plessy's lawyer argued that this act was a violation of the 13th and 14th Amendments, but the court ruled 7 to 1 that the Act was constitutional. This doctrine was used to enforce "separate but equal" facilities. -
Theodore Roosevelt
Also known as "Teddy" Roosevelt, he was the 26th president of the United States from 1901-1909. Roosevelt suffered from Polio which is brought up by Milkman in SOS (Morrison 62). Eleanor Roosevelt is alluded to by Milkman in SOS as well (Morrison 156). -
The Great Migration
From 1916-1970, "it is estimated that some six million black Southerners relocated to urban areas in the North and West" ("The Great Migration"). -
Toni Morrison, Born
Toni Morrison's birthdate coincides with the date given by Robert Smith in his suicide note (Morrison 3). The day after, Feb. 19th, Milkman is born (Morrison 4). -
Scottsboro Case
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, "Despite testimony by doctors who had examined the women that no rape had occurred, the all-white jury convicted the nine, and all but the youngest, who was 12 years old, were sentenced to death." -
Harry S. Truman
33rd President of the United States (1945-53). (Morrison 62) -
Malcolm X
While in prison for robbery, Malcolm X converted to Islam (joined the Nation of Islam) and "following Nation tradition, he replaced his surname, “Little,” with an “X,” a custom among Nation of Islam followers who considered their family names to have originated with white slaveholders" ("Malcolm X"). (Morrison 160) -
Orval Faubus
Arkansas Governor from 1954-67 who "fought the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School in 1957" ("Orval Eugene Faubus"). (Morrison 101) -
Emmitt Till Murder
Emmitt Till was brutally murdered by Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam. On August 24th, Till allegedly went into a grocery store and whistled and touched the hand of the cashier, Carolyn Bryant (a white woman and Roy Bryant's wife). Bryant and Milam abducted Till by gun point, beat him, gouged out one of his eyes, shot him in the head, tied a metal fan to him with barbed wire and threw him in the river ("Emmett Till"). His mother chose to have an open casket at his funeral. -
John F. Kennedy
35th President of the United States (1961-63). Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. -
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing
Local Klu Klux Klan members bombed a predominately African American Baptist Church, injuring 14 and killing 4 girls. (Morrison 173). -
The National Visionary Leadership Project (NVLP)
In an interview recorded by NVLP (found on youtube), Toni Morrison discusses her inspiration for writing Song of Solomon. Morrison talks about the importance of song and myth to African American history, especially before 1963 (when everything "broke out" with the civil rights movement) and elaborates on the a particular myth about flying Africans that laid the groundwork for SOS.
