YG
Yaa Gyasi
60quotes
Yaa Gyasi: A Voice of Resilience and Hope
Full Name and Common Aliases
Yaa Gyasi is a Ghanaian-American novelist known for her poignant and powerful storytelling.
Birth and Death Dates
Born in 1989, Gyasi's life has been marked by creativity, resilience, and a deep connection to her heritage.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Gyasi holds dual citizenship of Ghana and the United States. She is a writer, novelist, and educator who has made significant contributions to the literary world.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in Alabama and later moving to Kentucky with her family, Gyasi was exposed to diverse cultures from an early age. Her experiences as a Ghanaian-American shaped her perspective on identity, culture, and belonging. She developed a passion for writing at a young age, which eventually led her to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Major Accomplishments
Gyasi's debut novel, Homegoing, was published in 2016 to critical acclaim. The book explores the legacy of slavery and its impact on African Americans through the interconnected stories of two sisters from Ghana. Homegoing received numerous awards and nominations, including the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction and a New York Times Notable Book.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to her novel, Gyasi has also written essays, short stories, and taught creative writing at various institutions. Her work often delves into themes of identity, family, history, and social justice, showcasing her unique perspective as a Ghanaian-American writer.
Impact and Legacy
Gyasi's writing has been praised for its lyrical prose, nuanced characterization, and unflinching exploration of the human condition. Homegoing has become a staple in contemporary American literature, offering readers a powerful and thought-provoking examination of the ongoing effects of slavery and colonialism.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Gyasi's voice is widely recognized for its authenticity, compassion, and unflinching honesty. Her writing serves as a reminder that our stories are intertwined with those of our ancestors, and that understanding our past is essential to building a more equitable future. Through her work, Gyasi inspires readers to confront the complexities of their own identities, cultures, and histories.
As a writer, educator, and advocate for social justice, Yaa Gyasi has cemented her place as a leading voice in contemporary literature. Her commitment to exploring the human experience through a lens of cultural heritage and historical context continues to inspire readers worldwide.
Quotes by Yaa Gyasi
Yaa Gyasi's insights on:
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I'm too old to go to America now. Too old for revolution, too. Besides, if we go to the white man for school, we will just learn the way the white man wants us to learn. We will come back and build the country the white man wants us to build. One that continues to serve them. We will never be free.
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There are women down there who look like us, and our husbands must learn to tell the difference.
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You want to know what weakness is? Weakness is treating someone as though they belong to you. Strength is knowing that everyone belongs to themselves.” ― Yaa Gyasi, Homegoing
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A little black child fighting in her sleep against an opponent she couldn't name come morning because in the light that opponent just looked like the world around her. Intangible evil. Unspeakable unfairness. Beulah ran in her sleep, ran like she'd stolen something, when really she had done nothing other than expect the peace, the clarity, that came with dreaming. Yes, Jo thought, this was where it started, but when, where, did it end?
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When Marjorie had asked her father again when he had known he liked Esther, he said he had always known. He said it was born in him, that he breathed it in with the first breeze of Edweso, that it moved in him like the harmattan.
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The night Effia Otcher was born into he musky heat of Fanteland, a fire raged through the woods just outside her father's compound.
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Whenever I think of my mother, I picture a queen-sized bed with her lying in it, a practiced stillness filling the room.
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It was the butt that had done it nineteen years ago, was still doing it now. He'd seen it coming around Strawberry Alley and had followed it four whole blocks. It was mesmerizing, the way it moved, independent of the rest of her body, as though operating under the influencer of another brain entirely, one cheek knocking into the other cheek so that that cheek had to swing out before knocking back
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The older Jo got, the more he understood about the woman called Ma. The more he understood that sometimes staying free required unimaginable sacrifice.
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They'd heard it all, but hadn't they earned their freedom? The days of running through forests and living under floorboards. Wasn't that the price they had paid?
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