Explores Toni Morrison's admitted, but critically neglected, interest in the relationships between African American men and women and the ""axes"" on which these relationships turn. This book considers the barriers between black men and women thrown up by their participation in a racist culture of competition, and fixed ideals about physical beauty.

Taking a close look at all the key male figures in Toni Morrisons eight novels, this book explores Morrisons admitted, but critically neglected, interest in the relationships between African American men and women and the axes on which these relationships turn. Most Morrison scholarship deals with her female characters. Cant I Love What I Criticize? offers a response to this imbalance and to Morrisons call for more work on men, who remain, in her words, outside of that little community value thing.