Intelligence Squared
Tayari Jones: How I Found My Voice
Aug 20, 2023
Tayari Jones, an award-winning novelist and author known for her powerful narratives on African-American life, shares her journey from childhood activism in Atlanta to becoming a celebrated writer. She discusses the profound influence of Judy Blume on her work and the impact of personal trauma, including the Atlanta child killings, on her creativity. Additionally, Jones delves into the complexities of love intertwined with incarceration, challenges societal perceptions, and reflects on motherhood's evolving narrative while celebrating the vibrancy of Black identity in her hometown.
49:52
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Quick takeaways
- Growing up in a racially divided neighborhood shaped Tayari Jones' perspective on identity and activism.
- By telling stories from her generation, Tayari Jones fills in the gaps of history and gives voices to the marginalized.
Deep dives
Growing up in Cascade Heights, Atlanta in the 1970s
The guest, author Tayari Jones, shares her childhood experiences growing up in Cascade Heights, a black middle-class community in Atlanta. She explains that she didn't realize until later that there was a historical racial divide in the neighborhood with a literal wall erected to keep black families out. Jones reflects on her parents' education, their activism in the civil rights movement, and the tensions between wanting to belong and being proud of her parents' principles.
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