Seeking on the Politics of Coexistence: Toni Morrison’s Paradise

This paper aims to examine the significance of coexistence for African Americans after being freed from slavery in Toni Morrison’s Paradise. First, it explores the inconsistency of the ideal community that is supposed to be free from discrimination and oppression. Instead of continuously rebelling against white-dominated America and its exceptionalism, the Ruby community establishes racial boundaries, even within the Black community, by disallowing their inflow the eight-story rocks.<br/> In this context, the concept of the “house” serves as a powerful symbol of immanentism. In contrast, the Convent is a place where women can express their voice freely. Once a place of corruption, the Convent becomes a space where women reveal their trauma and share their pain. By embracing each other’s scars, they find healing and live lives free from discrimination and suppression. Ultimately, this study suggests that American society progress toward true coexistence based on mutual acceptance.