Everything Happens with Kate Bowler Safiya Sinclair: Rewriting Roots
Dec 10, 2024
Safiya Sinclair, a Jamaican-American poet and author of "How to Say Babylon," shares her journey of growing up in a Rasta family in Montego Bay. She discusses the intertwining of personal identity with Jamaican national history and the Rastafari movement's influence on her upbringing. Safiya reflects on the power of poetry for self-discovery and breaking free from familial expectations. She also explores themes of gender roles, the balance of agency and submission, and the impact of storytelling in shaping aspirations.
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Jamaican Independence and Rastafari
- Safiya Sinclair's parents were born in 1962, the same year Jamaica gained independence from Britain.
- This historical context shaped their lives and contributed to their embrace of Rastafari.
Rastafari Origins and Terminology
- Rastafari emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s, centered around Haile Selassie I as a Black messianic figure.
- The movement drew inspiration from biblical themes of exile and liberation, using "Babylon" to represent oppression and "Zion" to represent hope.
Parents' Paths to Rastafari
- Safiya Sinclair's father found belonging in Rastafari through reggae music, while her mother sought solace after being told she was infertile.
- Their shared yearning led them to Rastafari and shaped their family's path.
