Ivanka Trump’s new book, “Women Who Work,” is made up of different quotes from a wide range of sources. Her book has been criticized by many and some are less than thrilled to have been included..
Critics have said that the book offers very generic advice for women in the workforce and that it features out-of-context quotes intended to be inspirational.
One quote in particular has people talking, and not in a good way. Ivanka used a Toni Morrison quote about the brutal psychological impact of slavery to describe the challenges of women in management.
The quote reads:
“Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.”
Morrison used that phrase in his novel “Beloved,” which describes the psychological challenges that former slaves faced after escaping to the North
NPR’s Annalisa Quinn reviewed Ivanka’s book, stating that she “strips the quote of its context and instead inserts it into a chapter on time management.”
” Are you a slave to your time or the master of it?” Ivanka writes. “Despite your best intentions, it’s easy to be reactive and get caught up in returning calls, attending meetings, answering e-mails.”
Social media users reacted to Ivanka’s use of Morrison’s quote.
Ivanka Trump just Pepsi-fied Toni Morrison and slavery — appropriating violent dehumanization to sell books to privileged women. #GirlBye https://t.co/r6eV8CBes2
— Karen Attiah (@KarenAttiah) May 4, 2017
Ivanka Trump compares herself to a slave while quoting Toni Morrison https://t.co/UN9FI5d0vp pic.twitter.com/tnE24JPPfj
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) May 4, 2017
It's weird to read a book by Ivanka Trump and see her using Junot Diaz and Toni Morrison's words. pic.twitter.com/s613yXXUxH
— Pete Souza Petty (@KendraJames_) May 2, 2017
Nerve using Toni Morrison passage on ANYTHING! @IvankaTrump have a MORAL duty to inform use of their words in book.Not all want assoc w/you! https://t.co/dDMEeNO4W5
— JEFSantamonica (@JEFSantaMonica) May 4, 2017