Beloved: Ohio Celebrates Toni Morrison is a yearlong celebration from February 2026 through February 18, 2027, exploring the life, literature, and legacy of Toni Morrison, Lorain, Ohio, native and the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Led by Ohio Humanities and Literary Cleveland with support from Ohioana Library Association and the Toni Morrison Society, the program invites all Ohioans to learn about Toni Morrison, read her work, reflect on American history, discuss the themes of her writing, and build connections across the state. Morrison’s eleven novels trace American history through the Black experience—from A Mercy in the 1680s to God Help the Child in the early 2000s—offering readers a journey through time and truth. Her debut novel, The Bluest Eye, is set in her hometown of Lorain; Sula takes place in a fictional Ohio town; and Beloved is set in Cincinnati. The project builds on the state of Ohio’s declaration of February 18 as Toni Morrison Day and aligns with America250, a national effort commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Full List of Events
By the People – National Initiative Homepage