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A review by lady_wira
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
5.0
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi follows the story of a family deep in the throes of slavery and slave trade, Cobbe Otcher’s lineage slaves, and Big Man Asare’s lineage traders.
It clearly delivers on the impact of slavery on family bonds, marriage, parenting, work, the search for opportunities and the desire of the slaves to go back home. Additionally, it is an excellent portrayal of what Africans did to fellow Africans, the benefits of slave trading, the societal status of traders and conversely the story of slave traders turned slaves. A double-edged sword.
As generations come the story unfolds vividly detailing the suffering endured by slaves in ships and dungeons and the flourishing slave trade in Africa. An emotional portrayal of what life was, what the struggle for freedom was and the privileges we enjoy today because of those that came before us
Following the characters was a look into the mirror, a recognition of what the majority of our ancestors endured. Throughout Africa slave trade was practised, so the look into Ghana is easily translatable to the glimpse into my own land.
Homegoing has many characters, 27 characters total not counting the slavers, overwhelming to keep track of but the family tree at the beginning of the book is a great help. With every new character, I had to refer back.
Yaa Gyasi does not mince her words, she is powerful and confident and ensures that this 300- page book delivered what it was supposed to.
Excerpts:
“The need to call this thing “good” and this thing “bad”, this thing “white” and this thing “black”, was an impulse that Effia did not understand. In her village, everything was everything. Everything bore the weight of everything else”.
Homegoing is thought-provoking, elicits emotions and almost piques one’s anger against the injustice meted upon the blacks.
“…she’d discovered that only the white men talked of “black magic”. As though magic had a colour.
Statements that guarantee you will not remain unchanged.
“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”.
“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…..we have to start somewhere…..so let’s start with ourselves”. The greatest takeaway from this masterpiece.
Homegoing is the full circle. In the end, the family reunites on the shores of the gold coast. Giving birth to renewed hope and freedom. This book is a great read for anyone in search of knowledge and understanding of Africa’s coming-of-age story. A book for someone in search of what we are not taught in history class and in search of free thought. Go in willing to have your opinions challenged and your thought process provoked.
It clearly delivers on the impact of slavery on family bonds, marriage, parenting, work, the search for opportunities and the desire of the slaves to go back home. Additionally, it is an excellent portrayal of what Africans did to fellow Africans, the benefits of slave trading, the societal status of traders and conversely the story of slave traders turned slaves. A double-edged sword.
As generations come the story unfolds vividly detailing the suffering endured by slaves in ships and dungeons and the flourishing slave trade in Africa. An emotional portrayal of what life was, what the struggle for freedom was and the privileges we enjoy today because of those that came before us
Following the characters was a look into the mirror, a recognition of what the majority of our ancestors endured. Throughout Africa slave trade was practised, so the look into Ghana is easily translatable to the glimpse into my own land.
Homegoing has many characters, 27 characters total not counting the slavers, overwhelming to keep track of but the family tree at the beginning of the book is a great help. With every new character, I had to refer back.
Yaa Gyasi does not mince her words, she is powerful and confident and ensures that this 300- page book delivered what it was supposed to.
Excerpts:
“The need to call this thing “good” and this thing “bad”, this thing “white” and this thing “black”, was an impulse that Effia did not understand. In her village, everything was everything. Everything bore the weight of everything else”.
Homegoing is thought-provoking, elicits emotions and almost piques one’s anger against the injustice meted upon the blacks.
“…she’d discovered that only the white men talked of “black magic”. As though magic had a colour.
Statements that guarantee you will not remain unchanged.
“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”.
“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…..we have to start somewhere…..so let’s start with ourselves”. The greatest takeaway from this masterpiece.
Homegoing is the full circle. In the end, the family reunites on the shores of the gold coast. Giving birth to renewed hope and freedom. This book is a great read for anyone in search of knowledge and understanding of Africa’s coming-of-age story. A book for someone in search of what we are not taught in history class and in search of free thought. Go in willing to have your opinions challenged and your thought process provoked.