Why Does Toni Morrison Hate Hamilton?

Snap: @ccarmella

Video Sources: 

Ishmael Reed First Essay:

“Historian’s Irked by ‘Hamilton’ Raise Their Duel” —AP Article:

Ishmael Reed Second Essay:

Hamilton’s America Documentary:

Historian and Hamilton Expert Joanne Freeman, Christopher Jackson and Filmmaker Alex Horwitz at The Bush Center:

[abbanjo]

I think there is another aspect to these criticisms that is often left out. This musical functions as a type of nationalist progressive "diversity TM" type of propaganda. I know that sounds harsh but let me elaborate.

It writes black and brown people into the founding myth of a nation that to this day seeks to violently oppress, assimilate and ultimately eliminate them. It does this to buy in both middle class POCs particularly African Americans into the national founding myth, and to assuage the guilt of middle class and upper middle class white liberals. The fact that it is extremely well done both in its music, production and acting reinforces this. Great propaganda is well made and enthralling. Hamilton is this.

To me this is very apparent as a person of the African Diaspora who isn't from America. I think because some of the loudest critics have been black Americans this nationalist aspect is missed in their criticisms.

One thing that really bums me out is black history globally, in the diaspora and in America is full of diverse, heroic, compelling and sometimes victorious histories of struggle and resistance and perseverance, but these stories are rarely if at all told. Thinking here of the black Seminole war, the Haitian Revolution and many many other stories. I would rather see myself represented in these stories than written into white history just so we can fit into a nationalist story that has always marked us as the enemy.

Anyway really enjoyed this video regardless and appreciate your fair representation of the critics.

[sassymedea]

I used to love the musical but now I'm a bit sickened by its popularity, Hamilton is what happens in a culture where the work of so called activists starts and ends with representation . No interrogating the systems that allow the ruling class to amass so much wealth, prestige and power most of the time on the backs of POC but only on getting a few select POC into the existing power structure. In Hamilton the founding myth of America is preserved for instance of the 20000 black soldiers who fought for the British, because Britain's promised them their freedom including some of George Washington's slaves and the way he was a land speculator an wanted to encroach on native land which Britain denied the colonist is erased as it doesn't fit the narrative. All of this would suggests that the revolutionary war wasn't meaningful for all Americans. Conservatives love to erase all mention of poc and their struggles in ameican history to preserve the myth of American exceptionalism liberals do the same and instead have the descendants of slaves play their oppressors and call it progress. In both instances the true story of POC is erased.

[paulpalmer]

It is not a "work of historical fiction" in any sense. It's an artistic retelling of real history by Miranda. Miranda has stressed in interviews a desire to be "as historically accurate as possible". With that sentiment in mind the things he decided to omit are all the more important. Hamilton is just a collection of liberal jingoism spoken on beat.

[kensmall]

I have not seen "Hamilton" on stage or streaming live. I did see Reed's "The Haunting of Lin-Mauel Miranda." It was amusing and jarring at the same time. It will never make its way to Broadway of to a Disney livestream. However, I'm glad that Reed's play has led to some meaningful debate and discussion. After all, isn't that what art is supposed to do, you know, lead us to think about things?

As per Ms. Morrison, I'm glad that she had the chutzpah to fund Reed's play. I can imagine her up in heaven editing something Amiri Baraka wrote and cautioning Muhammad Ali about misbehaving!

[feathermountainpress]

Appreciate the analysis and all the links, thank you.

[PoetPariahMusic]

How could they easily assume there was no slavery when they mentioned slavery like 20 times lol

[howlette]

I can’t believe you have less than 100 subscribers! Everything was well-said and taken into consideration. Looking forward to more videos!

[sureyeahwhynotamiright]

Huge fan of the musical - it actually gave me a boost to read about the history. Just today I finished Chernow’s biography of Hamilton that inspired the musical and WOW there is so much that was left out, including the deep presence of slavery and the divide this issue had in our country from the very beginning. The musical is at best a fun stage play that provides a stepping stone towards an interest in learning about our nation’s history.

[rationraw]

Her home was burnt down by white people when she was 2, most of her father’s life was humiliated by the similar kind of people so her father decided that black people are better than white people, told her that, to act like that. Women who was similar in that situation, they grew up becoming housewives struggled in that demented world. Her words are powerful. Someday I will watch Hamilton, she didn’t like it, nothing to do with me.

[Skywatchers-Inc]

Well Michelle Obama did ask Lin if he can create a musical about the African American struggles during slavery, give him the time he's still young, I'm sure he will not disappoint.

[calebrose]

Thanks for this excellent discussion. I'm excited to see your future work.

[teamspoons]

Hamilton is a story about him the other characters are either shown talking to hamilton fighting with him or like the schyluar sisters introduced to the story so we have a better understanding about washington having a slave i dont think he told hamilton about thwt so ofcourse wasnt in the musical.

[ania]

I just don't understand why a LATINO wrote about BLACK slavery and got praised for it. Like I thought we were done with that in 2010.

[JakobVirgil]

The fact Thomas Paine isn't in it is notable.

[melodicatyto]

I absolutely LOVED how you explained this. I personally didn't enjoy watching it, the actors and actresses are TALENTED though, but I do enjoy some of the music.

[AA-egnf]

I think Hamilton would've worked as a concept album.

[billb]

A little alarming that the Hamilton press conference was held in the George W Bush building

[gloriahudson]

The mere fact that many have been debating slavery and the horrible contradictions of the founding fathers is amazing. Leave the musical alone and fight for what happens now. White supremacy is the problem, not a show.

[CaptainGreenHawk]

It's all intentional. I think we are supposed to walk away from the show thinking "What does this show say about minorities in America today?" It's not a history lesson.

[GucciDishes]

i personally hated hamilton when i saw it. i do not regularly watch stage plays but i watched it on disney plus and was disgusted. everyone said how good it was without mentioning the whitewashed nonsense