By: Roy Chebaclo Today in class, my classmates and I had a large group discussion where we shared our writing from the weekend. The writing was from an assignment where we had the opportunity to engage with a character from Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, the novel we are currently reading, on a personal/first-person basis. ThisContinue reading “Why Making Assumptions is Dangerous: An Example From Class”
Tag Archives: Homegoing
Homegoing: viewing through different lenses
By Ella Deignan In Gyasi’s novel titled Homegoing, Gyasi offers stories from individuals and intertwines each of the stories to create a more complex tree of relationships. Through these relationships, we as the reader can see the story through a window, viewing these new ideas, cultures, and individuals through literature. However, we can also useContinue reading “Homegoing: viewing through different lenses”
The Importance of Names in Homegoing
By Reina Ackerberg Homegoing, written by Yaa Gyasi, includes a vast variety of names, varying from extremely short to long, and common to unique. What are names? And why are they important? According to the Equity and Inclusion Office of British Columbia, “Our names are an incredibly important part of our identity. They carry deepContinue reading “The Importance of Names in Homegoing”
In The Shadow of The Castle: the Legacy of Ghanaian Slave Trade and What “homegoing” Means to African Americans Today
Above: Steve Harvey explores Ghana as part of the “Year of Return” for African descendants in the diaspora.1 By Taggert Smith In 2019, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo announced a “Year of Return,” inviting descendants of Ghanian people spread out across the world to return to the motherland. Though we didn’t read this far in class,Continue reading “In The Shadow of The Castle: the Legacy of Ghanaian Slave Trade and What “homegoing” Means to African Americans Today”
Silence: the Loudest Voice
Silence. The one word that once said, disappears. For many, there is peace in silence. It’s a place of serenity where one is left to their own thoughts and are given time to reflect. It can be an avenue to practice mindfulness and meditation. Yet, silence is also a defense mechanism; a method to processContinue reading “Silence: the Loudest Voice”
The Door of No Return: Fanteland’s History and British Exploitation in the Transatlantic Slave Trade
By Hannah Sweet Esi’s journey through the door of no return in Yaa Gysai’s Homegoing is a single vignette of the experience of millions of Africans. From the 16th to 19th century millions of Africans were herded onto ships for the New World, never to see their families or homeland again. It is estimated thatContinue reading “The Door of No Return: Fanteland’s History and British Exploitation in the Transatlantic Slave Trade”
Strong, Independent, but Certainly not a Woman: How Peers Disrupt and Maintain the Gender Binary
Gender is something that everyone experiences, even if everyone is at a different point on the spectrum. From a young age, many children are taught the gender binary in nonexplicit ways. My brother and I had very different childhoods based on our genders. My brother grew up playing with blocks and learning about planes andContinue reading “Strong, Independent, but Certainly not a Woman: How Peers Disrupt and Maintain the Gender Binary”
Family Tree: Is it Important?
When we commenced the novel Homegoing, I was confused as to why Ms. Reid told us to analyze the family tree. I turned the page, glimpsed at it, did not recognize any of the names, and I flipped the page. I thought to myself, meh, whatever, not important. Flash forward a few days, I thoughtContinue reading “Family Tree: Is it Important?”
Daddy’s Little Girl: Blessing or Curse?
In American culture, the concept of being a “daddy’s girl” or a “mama’s boy” is all too present; I myself have been called daddy’s little girl. More often than not, if a young girl connects with her father and is given special attention from him, she is deemed a daddy’s girl, for many a prizedContinue reading “Daddy’s Little Girl: Blessing or Curse?”
Evil Stepmothers: Not Just in Disney Movies
Motherhood and fatherhood are two very complex, yet personal roles people have with their children. However, the stereotypes that often plague these roles may seem to differ on the surface in other cultures. In America, motherhood and fatherhood are seen as two very separate roles. The role of the father is to be the breadwinnerContinue reading “Evil Stepmothers: Not Just in Disney Movies”
Constructions of Gender in Literature 